Posted April 15, 2017 09:30:48

Photo: Jenson Button (L) will replace McLaren's Fernando Alonso (R) for the Monaco Grand Prix. (AP: Eugene Hoshiko)

Britain's Jenson Button will stand in for Fernando Alonso at next month's Monaco Formula One Grand Prix while the Spaniard competes in the Indianapolis 500 on the same day.

Monaco resident Button handed over his McLaren seat to Belgian rookie Stoffel Vandoorne at the end of last season but remained under contract to the team with the possibility of returning in 2018.

He won the showcase race in 2009 on his way to the title with Brawn GP.

"I'm thrilled to be making a one-off return to Formula One racing, and I couldn't think of a better place to make that return than my adopted home Grand Prix: Monaco," the 37-year-old said in a statement at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Honda-powered McLaren have endured a tough start to the season, with no points from two races, but Monaco's tricky street circuit could suit their car better and is also one where drivers can make the difference.

Button will be the most experienced driver in the race as he makes his 306th start, with the Briton third in the all-time lists behind the retired Rubens Barrichello and Michael Schumacher.

He is also the last driver to win a race for McLaren, in Brazil in 2012, but cannot hope for such success this time.

"It's one of my all-time favourite racetracks," the winner of 15 grands prix said.

"OK, I realise we won't have a realistic chance of repeating my 2009 victory, but I think we'll have an opportunity to score world championship points, which will be very valuable to the team in terms of constructors' rankings.

"As for Fernando, I hope he not only fares well at Indy but enjoys it too."

Photo: Fernando Alonso will take to the Bahrain track, but he'll fly off to Indianapolis when the Monaco GP gets underway. (AP: Luca Bruno)

McLaren announced earlier in the week that double world champion Alonso would compete at Indianapolis with a car run by Andretti Autosport, last year's winners.

The team made no mention of any testing before Monaco but Button said he would use McLaren's simulator and had no fitness concerns.

Is 2017 the year that Aussie Daniel Ricciardo can break through for his first Formula One world championship? Two former world champions certainly think so.

The Briton has been spending time in California, competing in triathlons and was recently disqualified for speeding through a cycling slow zone during an Ironman 70.3 event.

McLaren racing director Eric Boullier said Button's return was great news.

"Jenson is a class act. He's a superb driver — fast, smooth and precise — and he won't have lost any of his competitive edge over the past few months," the Frenchman said.

"He's always been good at Monaco. He'll do a great job for us, I'm sure of that."

Reuters

Topics: formula-1, motor-sports, sport, monaco, united-states