Former McLaren driver John Watson believes the sport of Formula One will be a much poorer place without Jenson Button.

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It has been reported that Button, 35, is set to bring the curtain down on his grand prix career at the end of the season.

An announcement surrounding his future could be made as early as today ahead of this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka.

And Watson, the Northern Irishman, who spent six seasons at McLaren, believes the loss of Button will be detrimental to the sport.

“The paddock will be an even less enjoyable place to be,” said Watson of Button’s possible retirement. “Outside from Jenson’s ability as a racing driver, he brings other qualities which are lacking in the paddock – humility and personality. Who is he going to be replaced with?

“There is a dearth of what you might call charismatic characters in the sport, so Jenson not being there is something which will be sorely missed.

“When it comes to the end it is always rather sad, but it is nice for the driver to have that control and leave on his terms and his own conditions.”

Button, who won the world title in 2009, has competed in more races than any other Briton in the sport’s coveted history.

He began his career with Williams at the turn of the century, winning his maiden grand prix at his 113th attempt in Hungary in 2006. He was then paired alongside Lewis Hamilton at McLaren in 2010 and earned more points than his team-mate in the three seasons they spent together.

But this year, Button has endured his worst season in the sport, scoring only six points from 13 races, with McLaren’s Honda relationship having long since descended into farce.

If he chooses to retire, the Englishman has been tipped to join the World Endurance Championship – as former Red Bull driver Mark Webber did last season – or even move into a career in television as host of the revamped Top Gear.

Watson added: “There is a big difference between being a Formula One driver and WEC. Whoever tries to big it up, Formula One it is not, and it frankly won’t ever be.”