Jenson Button will be happy to turn his attention to competing in the Lavaman triathlon on Sunday in Hawaii as Formula One takes a three-week break.
The McLaren driver finished a poor 14th at the Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday, losing all chances of winning as in the season-opener in Australia a week earlier through a rare collision.
But Button simply shrugged off the day, saying: “I can't do anything but laugh, it was such a a horrendous race.”
Button has consoled himself with triathlon in the past as he took up the sport when things were not going well for him in F1racing during his time at Honda five years ago. Now he has become addicted to it, with the Olympic distance event in Waikoloa his latest start.
“The triathlon came about when I drove a car that was not competitive. For me triathlon was the best escape really. To do something that if I train hard enough and hurt myself enough I can do well. That's why I started and I just got addicted to it.
“I get annoyed if I can't do the right training or if I am slower than at a previous race. It is so competitive. and I go to bed just as angry as I was after a Grand Prix if I had a bad race,” Button told dpa and two other news organizations at the Sepang race.
Button's ultimate aim is to qualify and “not be gifted” a place at the Hawaii Ironman once his F1 days are over.
But for now he still sits in the McLaren car although the intensive triathlon training and competitons have made him fitter than ever before.
That, as well his complete ease after winning the world title in 2009 and the subsequent move to McLaren in 2010, have turned Button into what appears to be the most serious challenger of world champion Sebastian Vettel.
“I know I am probably not the quickest driver on the grid. My aim is not to be the quickest either. My aim is to be the best,” he said.
“But I never think I am the best. It is important to be confident what I am, but never overconfident. Realising that its not one individual that wins a Grand Prix. that makes a big difference. that has helped me a lot in winning Grands Prix.”
Thirteen years in the fast sport have allowed Button to organise his private life in the best possible way which further adds to his success, just as being kept firmly on the ground by his friends, father John Button and girlfriend Jessica Michibata, who are around for the races and in-between and put him into his place if necessary.
“It's pretty good. I have had some pretty good times in my life in terms of racing and in terms of private life. I am very happy right now,” he said.
“At this point of my career it is important to really enjoy every moment in terms of racing and in terms of the time I spend at a Grand Prix with my friends and family because I never know when it is going to end.
“Maybe I am too big for my boots sometimes, but I have people to get me back into line. My girlfriend may say something and my manager will definitely say something.”
The atmosphere and personnel at McLaren, who may lack the flair of Ferrari, are just as important for Button, who has fewer ups and downs that the more temperamental team-mate and 2008 world champion Lewis Hamilton.
“I do feel very good here. I think we have a great atmosphere in the team. Everyone says its a very grey team. I expected it a little bit but they normally build good cars and it doesn't matter so much.
“The history is very exciting. I feel there is a great passion here. People obviously talk about Ferrari, about them being very passionate which they are. But I don't think most people realize how passionate this team is. How much they want to achieve.
“I am very happy here (but) you never know whats going to happen in the future. I am not going to sign my life away but I will definitely be here for the next few years.”
Retirement is not on his mind even if McLaren would go through a poor spell, and Button hopes to make the final call himself and then look back with pride.
“I think it is really important to have good memories from these times. In 10 years in the future I will look back and go 'wow' those times that I had in Formula One are great memories and I will take them to my grave,” he said. -Sapa-dpa