Former driver says Button almost retired

Former McLaren driver Kevin Magnussen says Jenson Button came close to being dropped by the team and retiring after the 2014 season.

McLaren had recently signed Fernando Alonso and were set to partner the former World Champion with the Dane.

However, Button went on to finish fourth and fifth in the last two races of the season, the Brazil and Abu Dhabi grands prix respectively, and the team did an about turn.

"I was told that it was my seat, that I didn't need to worry," Magnussen told Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet.

"Jenson had his two best races at the end of the season. He did really well. But he had also hung photos of his entire career in his room. He had a helmet ready to go that said 'good-bye' on it.

"He was driving only to have fun and enjoy his last two races without stress or pressure, believing 100 per cent that he was done in F1."

Magnussen remained with McLaren in 2015, but has since been released by the team. However, he says he has no hard feelings.

"Jenson is a good bloke and there's nothing bad between us. We are in the same sport and competing for the same seats,” he said.

“There is full respect. I know why he got the seat and there's nothing between him and me at all."