Mark Webber has described Jenson Button's Monaco Grand Prix return a "non-story" because the Briton isn't taking it "so seriously".
Button will make a one-off appearance in Monaco to replace Fernando Alonso who has a deal in place to race in the 101st running of the Indy 500 with McLaren-Honda, as part of a one-car team run by Andretti.
Button was therefore drafted in for the street race, but has opted not to do any prior testing and will therefore only get his first taste of the McLaren MCL32 in Monaco during first practice, which Webber says is evidence the 2009 champion isn't too bothered about the return.
"Jenson didn't do any testing in Bahrain, he doesn't take it so seriously – 'I want to stay in America and do my triathlon, I'm not bothered about the Bahrain test' – which for me was a surprise," Webber is quoted as saying by Autosport.
"For Jenson the first session in Monaco will be wakey-wakey. I don't think he's very interested," added Webber. "I don't think he would have been first on the phone [about replacing Alonso]."
Webber also believes the fact McLaren aren't competitive and that Button is unlikely to see the chequered flag due to reliability is a factor.
"It's a non-story, Jenson at Monaco. He goes out, has fuel pressure problems in FP1, qualifies 17th, retires on lap 12 of the race. Whatever, who cares?