Jenson Button wants McLaren future resolved quickly
Jenson Button (credit: Charles Coates/Getty Images)
Jenson Button wants his McLaren future to be decided sooner rather than later.
Button has a one-year option remaining on his deal but McLaren have yet to confirm whether they intend on retaining his services.
The British driver was last year kept waiting until December before being retained and he says he wants his position clarified in “the next few weeks.”
Asked if he was keen to stay as Fernando Alonso’s team-mate, Button said: “That is something we need to discuss away from the circuit.
“It’s always in your hands. Hopefully in the next few weeks we can decide either way.”
Alonso will definitely retain his seat for 2016 but McLaren are believed to be weighing up their options on the second position with Button, Dane Kevin Magnussen – who raced for them in 2014 – and rising star Stoffel Vandoorne of Belgium all thought to be in the running.
McLaren racing director Eric Boullier said the 2009 world champion is in position to retain his place, but he admitted that plans remain fluid for now.
“We have two world champions and we do intend to keep them, so far,” said Boullier.
Sources close to Button say he hopes to stay at McLaren, as he is enjoying testing himself against Alonso, with whom he has been closely matched this season.
With McLaren currently languishing in ninth spot in the constructors’ championship, Button may be forced to renegotiate his current deal in order to remain with the team for 2016.
