McLaren have confirmed that 2009 Formula One World Champion Jenson Button will remain with the team into the new Honda era.
It had been previously thought that due to Button being 34-years-old that McLaren chairman Ron Dennis and McLaren racing director Eric Boullier wanted to keep hold of upcoming star Kevin Magnussen.
However a combination of Jenson Button’s experience within Formula One, his previous connections with Honda, his marketability and end-of-season form convinced McLaren to sign Button on a new multi-year deal.
?We have both agreed that more than one year is a must, This is a new project and an exciting project. To be part of the legendary partnership between McLaren and Honda is not a one-year thing. I?m looking forward to more than one year.’ Button said during the McLaren press day.
?It?s been a long few weeks but sometimes the best things in life are worth waiting for, It will be my 16th year in F1 and, more importantly, my sixth year at McLaren.’
With the return of former double Formula One World Champion Fernando Alonso to McLaren, Button will be working with a new team-mate in 2015.
But Kevin Magnussen will remain with McLaren as reserve and test driver, perhaps a clear indication that McLaren see the future with Magnussen, just not the immediate present.
Button added: ‘I?m not one to shy away from a challenge and this is a really exciting challenge. To be involved in the new era of McLaren-Honda and to be alongside this guy [Alonso] is a big challenge but an exciting challenge, I?m here to compete and fight for the World Championship.’
It is believed that Button has taken a substantial pay-cut to remain with McLaren, but when the other options were the World Endurance Championship with Porsche or a switch in sport to triathlon. It was an easy decision for Button: ?I did consider life outside of Formula 1 and, from what I?ve seen, it is nowhere near as fun as life in Formula 1!?
McLaren confirm Button on multi-year deal
