Jenson Button says he still has more titles in him as he reaching 200 grands prix
Jenson Button is confident that he has the capability to win another world championship before he leaves Formula 1, having celebrated his 200th grand prix start in Hungary this weekend
The milestone achievement makes Button the eighth most experienced driver in F1 history, and the fourth among the current field, behind Rubens Barrichello, Michael Schumacher and Jarno Trulli.
Having spent a long time in midfield equipment before his breakthrough world championship season with Brawn in 2009, Button's career path has been unusual compared to most title-winners. He said that championship campaign had totally changed his outlook on F1.
"Since I won the world championship I have enjoyed racing a hell of a lot," Button admitted.
"It is not the pressure other people put on you, it is the pressure you put on yourself to win. I still, obviously, would love to win another world championship and that is why I am here, to win another world championship."
Asked if he felt he had another title win in him, Button replied: "Definitely, 100 per cent. I don't think any driver who wins a world championship suddenly isn't interested in fighting for a victory or another world championship, or isn't capable. There has only been one world champion since me."
The McLaren driver said he did not attach too much significance to anniversaries like this weekend's, beyond them being a chance to take stock of his career so far, and did not have any particular ambition for how many grands prix he would ultimately contest.
"I am not going to aim for 300, 200 is just a number but because it is a milestone in most people's eyes it is good because you can ask questions about our past," said Button.
"You look back and you remember the good, the bad and the ugly of what you have been through.
"I don't think we do that enough; we are always living in the moment or looking forward too much. Especially in the world of Formula 1, every year rolls into the next. So it is nice to take a step back and look back at what I have achieved."
Asked if he suspected his next F1 contract would be his last, Button replied: "I don't know. You might say it is but when you get to the end of it you might think 'Wow, that's it then. What am I going to do now?'
"There are lots of possibilities but nothing quite like racing in Formula 1. Maybe I'll start my own team, what do you reckon? That worked well for so many other people! Wherever I am they will have to pay me a lot more than I am on now, if I could afford to run a team..."
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