Formula 1 veteran Jenson Button has headed into his summer break declaring that his future at the pinnacle of the sport is currently clouded, and admits that fighting for victories is what will keep him motivated to stay on the grid beyond 2016.
F1's most experienced active driver is linked with a return to his first team, Williams, for 2017, but he indicated he only wants to stay in F1 if he can win.
"Driving in Formula 1 is still fun for me," he told Auto Bild. "But it's not just about driving, it's also about winning. And for a long time now I haven't been doing that."
Button, 36, said he is at least happy with the regulations direction the sport is heading in for 2017, with more downforce and bigger tyres, "It's in the right direction. The sport is back on the way up."
"Hopefully we get more races like Barcelona, which everyone loved because four cars fought for victory. That only two drivers from the same manufacturer fight for the title on their own is not what the sport needs."
However, Red Bull and Ferrari have at least looked closer to Mercedes in the past couple of years, while Fernando Alonso thinks McLaren-Honda could be another 2017 title contender.
Button said: "I don't know what it will be like next year. What we can say is that the top three teams will also be at the front next year."
"Hopefully McLaren-Honda as well, looking at our development this year and the talented people on the team. Look, it's conceivable, but so far it's just reading tea leaves."
"It's nice to see that things are looking up and I'm part of the programme, but if you're not on the podium and fighting for wins, you're never happy," added Button.
The 2009 F1 world champion has not bee on the podium since Austrian Grand Prix in 2014, and his last win was at the 2012 Japanese Grand Prix.
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