Button: 'I would have loved to drive for Ferrari'

The British driver went on to win 15 races, secure 50 podium finishes and rack up 1,235 career points - the last of which coming in the United States earlier this year.

Jenson Button broke into F1 at the age of 20 in 2000 when he was handed a seat alongside Ralph Schumacher for Williams.

As Jenson Button's Formula One career comes to an end the 2009 world champion has admitted he would have loved the chance to drive for Ferrari.

Button broke into F1 at the age of 20 in 2000 when he was handed a seat alongside Ralph Schumacher for Williams.

The British driver went on to win 15 races, secure 50 podium finishes and rack up 1,235 career points - the last of which coming in the United States earlier this year.

Button's moment in the spotlight came seven years ago when he won the title with Brawn, a team hastily put together ahead of the season after Honda's withdrawal.

He moved to McLaren the following year and spent his final seven years with the team, Button remaining faithful despite the opportunity to fulfil one of his F1 ambitions. "If it was the right situation, yeah of course, I would have loved to drive for Ferrari," he told Top Gear magazine.

"Three teams that I wanted to drive for in F1 when I arrived, and they were Williams, Ferrari and McLaren, and I've driven for two of them. 

"There was an opportunity at one point [to drive for Ferrari], but I thought this was the best place to be."

Button now plans to test himself in other forms of motor racing with Le Mans and rallycross both in his sights. "Next year I'll definitely race in rallycross in some form," he added.

"I'd love to do Le Mans, but it's finding the right opportunities, the right drive and making sure I'm racing when the sport is in a good place. 

"I'd also like to race in Super GT, at Suzuka, which I'm going to do hopefully next year…and who knows what else."