Jenson Button has had quite the week. After clashing with former team-mate Lewis Hamilton in last weekend's German Grand Prix - their cars coming together on the Hockenheimring on Sunday in a clash that changed the race - Button initially questioned Hamilton's tactics, claiming Hamilton expected to let him through because he had the quicker car ("I think the problem with Lewis is he expected me to let him past"). Now, however, the 34-year-old has had a change of mind, saying, "After watching the race back think I overreacted with my feelings about Lewis's move. I can understand why he thought I was giving him room."
So, friends again. Sort of. We spoke to him about rivalry with Hamilton, a tough mid-season, his sense of style, and his love of sticky toffee pudding.
GQ: Let's start with last weekend. The third annual Jenson Button Triathlon was at Luton Hoo. How did it all go?
Jenson Button: It was bloody good actually. The weather was fantastic, we had over 400 participants raising money for Cancer Research and every one of them pledged in the region of £500. It was a great day out and had a real festival vibe. The pro triathletes turned up - Chris McCormack, a four-time world champion, said it was one of the best events he'd attended because of the great atmosphere with the band and barbeque. It was an amazing day."
Did you beat your personal best?
Unfortunately I got a puncture towards the end of the cycling so I had to run the rest of the way, which meant I couldn't. I ended up finishing 19th in the final which I'm actually quite happy with. Lately I've been training for the half-Iron Man distance which is very different to the short sprints of a triathlon. It was good fun and great to see five world champions as well as beginners taking part.
You managed a personal best at the British Grand Prix by finishing fourth, just one second off third-placed Daniel Riccardo. When can we expect McLaren to be challenging for the podium every weekend?
We did a great job in qualifying but in a straight forward session we wouldn't have finished third. We're not quick enough. We should be happy to finish fourth in the race at a high-speed circuit like Silverstone, which is definitely not our forte but you always want more. It wasn't to be but hopefully next year we'll go one step further and stand on the top step.
Yourself and Lewis both did brilliantly at Silverstone. Do you guys feel the pressure to make the British fans happy after such a dismal World Cup/Wimbledon etc?
It was so nice. We knew we weren't quick enough to win the race so I felt it would be amazing if Lewis managed to do it, which he did. The British fans were so supportive to Lewis and myself, it really meant a lot. I wish I could have made it on to the podium but I still think it was a great result in front of the home crowd. It seems we get more support there every year.
Jenson vs Lewis in 2011/2012 was one of our favourite periods in modern F1. You must be desperate to compete with him again?
He was a great team mate to have. It was nice having two Brits in the same team and we were so different in the way we went to work. You knew if you got one over on Lewis it felt great because he is so naturally talented and extremely quick.
How has Kevin Magnussen been in his first year at McLaren?
Kevin is super-fast and he wouldn't have got the drive if he wasn't. He's gained so much experience over the last few months. McLaren are very good at helping their drivers understand the engineering side of the car and what they have to do to look after the cars during a race. At the first race he had a great result (second) and I'm sure since then he has realised that this is the most competitive form of motorsport. Every driver out there has potential to become world champion so it is a different mindset to racing in any other category. He's been a good team mate this year and look forward to working with him in the future.
McLaren are such a British institution. Do you envisage yourself driving for any other team?
I want to be here. With the new engine partnership from next year (Honda) there will be lots of new challenges but I feel it will be an exciting place to be. I'd like to be here but you've also got to realise that it is not the only team in Formula One.
McLaren and Hugo Boss have the longest-running sports sponsor partnership of all time, 1981-present. Fashion has certainly moved on since the Eighties. Do you feel your style has changed over the years?
I loved the Eighties! Pumps and shell-suits. That was amazing. The most dangerous thing in the world is a shell-suit near a naked flame! [Laughs] I'm really lucky to work with Hugo Boss - their clothing is really stylish. When I first started at McLaren I knew that they made suits that look damn good but their casual wear surprised me - it looks great and I've been wearing a lot more of that lately.
Do you have a favourite item in your wardrobe? A go-to piece that you know you look good in?
I do love a bit of tweed. Very British. I also have a dark blue three-piece suit that I wear with a striped shirt, polka dot tie and pocket square. Sounds random but it is awesome!
You're the face of the Hugo Boss "Made to Measure" range, as a sports man the tailored features of the clothing must be a blessing?
Yeah I mean if you're in a suit that doesn't fit right you feel uncomfortable. The Made to Measure range makes such a difference. A suit that fits well gives you confidence.
How long do you see yourself at the wheel of an F1 car?
I don't see it ending, I'm really enjoying it right now. I think that's the most important thing, as long as I'm enjoying it I'm going to give one hundred percent. There are never any half measures in this sport, especially for me. I'm loving it right now and I feel I've got so much to give and so much more I want to achieve still. I'm 34-years-old and come with a lot of experience so I'm in a good position.
It's looking highly likely this season's World Championship is being decided on double points at the last race. What do you make of the rule?
I don't like it. There is no reason for one race to have more points than another. That race could change everything. Not only who wins the World Championship but also the constructors' positions from third back to sixth could be decided on that weekend too. You put the effort in throughout the year then suddenly you have a bad weekend and you drop a massive amount of points and a massive amount of funding that comes with those points.
In general how do you feel the new cars have gone down this year? Is it as exciting for the driver as before?
I loved the cars from about ten years ago with the V10 engines, massive amounts of downforce and tyres that lasted forever. You would just hammer it every lap of the race. But we don't have that anymore and you learn to adapt and make the most out of what you have, so that's exactly what we have to do as drivers. We still have the best job in the world so we make the best of it! Next year we should find more downforce on the cars and if the tyres change slightly we could get the grip back that we had a few years ago.
Finally, we hear so much about your healthy low-carb, low-fun diets. What are your vices?
I love sticky toffee pudding. I'm a big fan of banoffee pie. Cheesecake is out of this world. I love an ale. I have lots of vices. If I have a good day at training I might end it with a glass of wine or a beer. Sometimes you need to!
