Nevertheless, when asked by reporters if he's ready to give up on his slim title chances and pick up a supporting role for Hamilton for the upcoming two races – in Brazil and Abu Dhabi – Button made his stance very clear.
“You don't win world championships by conceding defeat before it is all over. You have seen today how things can change,” said Button in an interview with the BBC, shortly after the Korean Grand Prix.
“If mathematically I couldn't win the championship then, yes, I would help Lewis,” continued the 30-year old racer, hinting that the outcome of the Brazilian Grand Prix two weeks from now could solve that equation before the season finale.
His comments come to disagree with the ones issued by McLaren's team principal Martin Whitmarsh, who told German magazine Auto Motor und Sport that he expects Button to voluntarily help his teammate for the title.
“For us, the strategy is clear. We don't really have to say anything to our drivers. Jenson will offer his help to Hamilton voluntarily, because he knows that we have treated him fairly throughout the year. And because he knows that he will win now only with a miracle,” said Whitmarsh after the Sunday race.
As compared to Button, Hamilton is less than a race win away from Alonso in the title hunt, only 21 points separating the two racers after Korea. On the other hand, should Alonso finish ahead of any of his title rivals in Brazil and Mark Webber record another DNF, the title fight will be pretty much over before the Abu Dhabi finale.
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