McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh insists that Jenson Button will indeed stay next year, ending any doubts about the Briton’s future with the team.
McLaren has an option on Button for next year, but has yet to take it up. Sources say that money is not the key sticking point – in any case his 2012 salary would have been specified in his original contract – and the discussion is about the length of a potentially extended deal, as well as details such as the level of PR commitments.
The McLaren drivers do far more work away from the track than their Ferrari or Red Bull colleagues, and Jenson believes that it can be distracting.
“I can guarantee you that he will be with us next year,” Whitmarsh told the BBC today. “We both want to work together for a long period of time. It’s a non-issue.
“The nature of a contract is not something we are going to talk about publicly. I don’t think there’s any rush to go to a single year contract.
“Jenson’s done some of the most spectacular drives in the history of Formula 1 this year. And I think he’s capable of even more.”
Adam Cooper F1 