Jenson Button: Latest News and Rumours on McLaren F1 Driver's Future

Jenson Button's future in Formula One has finally been clarified after it was widely reported the former world champion was set to announce his retirement from the sport.

Continue for updates.

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Button to Stay with McLaren for 2016 Season, Backs Team for 'Great Success'

Thursday, Oct. 1

McLaren chairman and chief executive officer Ron Dennis issued the following statement:

"

Jenson and I have been discussing his plans in private for the past few weeks, and the fact that our talks have led to today’s announcement is very pleasing to both of us and will delight and motivate all at McLaren-Honda.

As I have made clear whenever I have been asked about the subject, Jenson’s current contract is of two years’ duration [2015 and 2016]. There is a ‘terminate after year one’ option that McLaren could have triggered if we had wished to do so, but, once it became clear from my many conversations with Jenson that he remained as enthusiastic and as committed and as focused as ever, that option immediately became an irrelevance.

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Button commented:

"

Over the past month or so I have done quite a lot of thinking, and it is no secret that I was at one point in two minds about my future.

But I have been a McLaren driver for six seasons now [2010-2015], and in that time I have got to know Ron very well. He and I have had some very good chats these past few weeks, and during those chats it has become clear to me that Ron is both utterly determined and uniquely equipped to lead our team through its current difficulties to great successes in the future. That gives me great confidence, and it is for that reason that, together, he and I have decided to continue our partnership; and, as soon as I had made that decision, straight away I realised it was the correct one.

"

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Button Commitment Signals Surprising U-Turn

Monday, Sept. 21

The 35-year-old had been tipped to announce his retirement ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, per Jonathan McEvoy of MailOnline. "[It] would take a massive change of heart now for Button to go back on his decision to leave Formula One," McEvoy wrote.

A former driver with Williams, Benetton, Renault, BAR and Honda, Button had his greatest success driving for Brawn when he won the 2009 World Championship.

The current campaign has brought little but misery with McLaren, as the team has struggled hugely following its new engine partnership with Honda.

Button has been forced to retire six times in the 2015 season—most recently at the Singapore Grand Prix—and has finished no higher than eighth all year.

However, he can now prepare for a 16th year in the sport following Thursday's announcement.