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Jenson Button's Formula One career may be over unless current team Honda find a new owner, former driver David Coulthard has warned.

With every other team having confirmed their line-up, Button's only chance of a drive in 2009 looks to be with Honda, who were put up for sale in December.

"You cannot say 100%, but it would be very difficult to imagine where he goes from there.

"It is a fickle business," said Coulthard, who retired last year.

Coulthard believes his 29-year-old fellow Briton cannot afford to sit out a season if Honda do not make the grid.

"The way the sport is now, there are so many young drivers coming through and there are so many opportunities for teams to pick up these guys," he added.

The team remain hopeful of a rescue bid, but with the season beginning in Melbourne on 29 March, time is running out.

Coulthard, speaking at the launch of Red Bull's new car in Spain, warned that even if the team are bought out, Button could still experience a hugely frustrating season at the back of the grid.

"Honda, off the back of a bad season, suddenly when they realise they are up for sale start talking that this (their 2009 car) is a winning design and it's a great opportunity for anyone to buy this winning design," Coulthard said.

"I don't think it is a given that it will suddenly be a winning design.

"You would like to imagine that it would be better than what they were given last year but I think the team at the back of the grid potentially could be Honda.

"Whereas going into previous years with Honda he was all full of hope and expectation that this could be the year that Honda will step up, he has to take a different view now.

"He has to now consider himself as driving for a mid-grid, privateer team.

"Whether they can deliver to his expectations or not is more difficult to judge going into this season and presumably longer term he has to be looking to try to make a step up to a manufacturer team."

BBC Sport Report...



What are peoples views on this then?
Button has been given many chances in the past, and consistently produces lacklustre results. Its easy for people to say "Oh, but hes not in a ferrari or a Mclaren" etc, which is true..but a couple of years ago, the Honda was proven to be the fastest car on thw Grid in a straight line !!!!

I think he needs to step down from F1, but not necesarilly end his career. he could go to DTM, Nascar, BTCC, WTCC etc.... He was never F1 material from the start, and its shown.

Young lad Ive worked with, Christiaan Maliepard from Holland, hes stepping up from Formula Ford and tested an F3 in Malaysia. He set the fastest lap time there ever in an F3, on his first go. He has talent, but unfotunatly is having to settle for Formula Renault this year, due to lack of funds. Its people like him who need to be helped, and developed to join F1

What career?

Oh you mean the couple of races he 'did well' in?

No way was he an F1 driver and its only cause hes british that people over here paid him any attention. No doubt he's probably a good driver, just not F1 good.

As craig said, hes a perfect candidate for DTM and should leave his place for someone who can drive an F1.

Hes driven an F1 car for a few years - fair play to the guy.

You may get in to F1 with a lucky break, but you cant stay there for that long without some skill.

So hes not a Micheal Schumacher or Lewis Hamilton, but there are F1 drivers consistantly slower than he is.

Fair enough, he was never the best, but he was never the worst either.

I think the boys got some skills

Yea...but not F1 worthy. Hes only ever won one race..and that was when the top 10 all fell foul. crashed etc....

He was the "Best of the Rest"

You need more than 1 person for a race....

If i am honest if you put them all in the same car ALL SEASON and did it on times per lap you'd suprised dont get me wrong i am a massive senna fan and hamo is as close to him as i have seen in awhile but dont put button in the skip i think he and hamo could be great together

Its a shame as the lad can drive a car verywell

But somtimes just being able to drive isnt enough.

Take me i can drive the pants off most cars and have trophys from winning races i should never have won but sit me down and say "we can make the car better/faster tell me how" i wouldnt have a any idea as i am not that way with cars (buttons that same) were as hamo knows everything that his cheif knows (hens why somtimes his tyre choice is SHITE) somtine the best drivers are the drivers who know nothing ABUT FIXING SHIT

Tis a shame i would of liked to see him with hamo

Heard today that Virgin might possibly be taking over Honda.