Jenson Button will not retire from Formula One at the end of the season, according to McLaren’s chief executive officer Ron Dennis.
– Japanese GP: Hamilton powers to victory in Suzuka
– Japanese GP: Kimi Raikkonen happy with fourth
– MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo cuts into Rossi’s title lead
Button’s future has taken centre stage in Japan after it was claimed that the 2009 world champion was set to call time on his world championship career.
The 35-year-old, in the midst of a dreadful campaign with McLaren, suggested in Singapore that he had fallen out of love with the sport.
Button signed a two-year contract with McLaren at the end of last season, but the second term is optionable for both parties. But Dennis, after seeing Button finish a miserable 16th and one lap down on race winner Lewis Hamilton, who grew up at McLaren, on Sunday appeared to end any doubt over his driver line-up for next season.
He said: “Jenson has a two-year contract. I should have taken away any doubt of our commitment to him earlier than I did. I did not speak to him until Thursday but at the end of the day it would have been more constructive if he had known I had no intention to exercise our option to terminate his contract.
“These sort of decisions are not mine and mine alone. They are decisions that have to be supported by the shareholders and I informed Jenson accordingly. But I could have done it a couple of days earlier and I don’t think it would have been an issue now.”
Button, who has been linked with a new career in the media as a presenter of ‘Top Gear’, as well as a move to the World Endurance Championship, joined McLaren in 2010.
Jenson Button remains quiet on his F1 future – “No information, you’re going to have to wait a bit longer.” #SSNHQ pic.twitter.com/Bw8eeRWRRU
— Sky Sports News HQ (@SkySportsNewsHQ) September 24, 2015
He challenged for the title in his debut season with the Woking-based team before finishing runner-up to Sebastian Vettel a year later. He has only scored six points this term so far.
Dennis added: “I think that the situation he found himself in was, like any relationship, that you need to know the other party wants you.”
Dennis was asked by Sky Sports F1 whether Button and Fernando Alonso, whose future is now also in doubt, will be racing at McLaren in 2016. He answered: “Yes. What more do you want?”
