Formula 1's Latest Rumours and Talk: Jenson Button, Sergio Perez and More

As he sat in the FIA press conference ahead of this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix, Jenson Button was expected to confirm his retirement from Formula One at the end of 2015.

The Land of the Rising Sun, a second home for the 2009 world champion, seems like the ideal venue for Button to make an announcement of such magnitude, given his links to Honda, McLaren's engine partner, and Suzuka, where he claimed one of his greatest victories in 2011.

Yet Button has declined to reveal any more details about his plans, instead opting to persevere with the game he and McLaren have played for much of the last 12 months.

While Button's future, for now, remains uncertain, Sergio Perez's has been resolved, after his new Force India contract was announced at Suzuka.

But although he has the opportunity to build something at the Silverstone-based outfit, Perez—formerly of Sauber and McLaren—has revealed he was tempted to move to another team for 2016.

With the Japanese GP taking place just seven days after Singapore, the fallout from the Marina Bay event has bled into this weekend.

Toro Rosso were at the centre of a team-orders disagreement in the closing laps of the Singapore race, with Max Verstappen refusing to move aside for Carlos Sainz Jr.

Despite their tender ages—at just 17, Verstappen is the youngest driver in F1 history, while Sainz recently turned 21—both drivers have responded in a mature fashion, with the Spaniard claiming his team-mate feels the need to establish a ruthless, uncompromising reputation.

The Singapore GP has also had an effect on engine-related politics, with F1 ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone claiming Ferrari are increasingly fearful of supplying V6 turbo power units to Red Bull Racing next season following the four-time world champions' return to form.

Closing our latest roundup roundup is John Booth, the Manor Marussia team boss, who has discussed the challenges facing his colleagues this weekend as F1 returns to the scene of Jules Bianchi's ultimately fatal accident in 2014.

Jenson Button Gives Nothing Away as Retirement Rumours Mount

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First it was Sebastian Vettel. Then to Valtteri Bottas. Up to Will Stevens, then across to Max Verstappen and Nico Hulkenberg.

And then, not before time, the spotlight landed on Jenson Button.

It felt as though the best was being kept until last during the FIA press conference at Suzuka, giving Button a chance to survey the scene, compose his thoughts and think up a killer line as the watching world was forced to wait.

According to the Telegraph's Daniel Johnson, Button has decided to end his 16-year Formula One career at the end of a 2015 season that has seen him score just six points in 13 races due to McLaren-Honda's fall from grace and had intended to announce his retirement this weekend.

And while Bottas' thoughts on Williams' prospects for the Japanese Grand Prix weekend were interesting, and Verstappen's reflections on Toro Rosso's team-orders tattle were characteristically blunt, Button was unquestionably the main attraction, the one we really wanted to hear from.

Yet despite being offered the perfect pedestal to confirm his plans, reflect on the many highs and lows of his career and finally end the year-long questions surrounding his future, one of the most popular and unique personalities in the sport became a typically guarded F1 driver.

Per the official FIA website, he simply—and anticlimactically—said:

"

I can’t give you anything else. Since the last race there’s no more information to give you. You’re going to have to wait for a little while I’m sorry to say but we’re in good talks, the team and myself so, that’s it. We’re here to concentrate on this weekend. It’s a big weekend for us. McLaren-Honda in front of Honda’s home crowd at their circuit…we hope that we can have a good weekend.

"

Button's handling of the situation—he went on to claim he'll "be happy next year"—was reminiscent of late 2014, when everyone suspected what would happen but nobody was comfortable nor confident enough to say so.

It was a missed opportunity.

Sergio Perez Considered Renault Move Before Signing New Force India Deal

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Force India finally confirmed Sergio Perez's contract renewal on Thursday, but the Mexican has admitted he considered a move away before committing his future to the team.

Currently ninth in the drivers' championship, Perez has been one of the most impressive performers on the grid in recent months, scoring points in five of the last six races.

Yet despite his impressive form alongside the highly rated Nico Hulkenberg—whose own contract extension was announced on the eve of the Italian Grand Prix—Perez's deal appeared to have been delayed.

At Monza, Perez told Autosport's Lawrence Barretto and Ian Parkes how he expected his future to be resolved in time for last weekend's Singapore GP, but the Marina Bay race came and went with no apparent developments.

Just hours before the news of his new deal was confirmed, meanwhile, deputy team principal Bob Fernley told Parkes, in a separate Autosport article, how Force India expected to make the announcement at Perez's home race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit in November.

In August, F1 journalist Ted Kravitz told Sky Sports' The F1 Show that Perez was the subject of interest from Renault, who are increasingly likely to purchase Lotus and return as a works team in 2016.

Romain Grosjean's imminent switch to the new Haas outfit, as reported by F1i's Chris Medland, will leave Renault searching for a new team-mate for Pastor Maldonado next season.

And although he has expressed his delight at remaining with Force India for a third season, having joined from McLaren at the beginning of 2014, Perez has suggested the delays to his new deal were, in part, due to his interest in Renault's plans. He told Motorsport.com's Jonathan Noble:

"

Obviously you always listen to other options and other offers, and obviously Renault—if they come—they are a very attractive team.

But at the moment, I knew that the best for me and the best place available was staying here.

[...]

(Renault) was obviously a serious option but for me I always made my mind clear, knowing the prospects of the team and knowing what we were doing in the background.

That is why I always wanted to stay. I am very happy to stay.

"

Until now, Perez had never remained with a team beyond two seasons, and he has admitted that stability was key to his decision, telling Force India's official website of his desire to "establish" himself in a team and "simply focus on the important stuff."

Carlos Sainz Jr. Remains on Good Terms with Max Verstappen

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Carlos Sainz Jr. has insisted he still enjoys a healthy relationship with Max Verstappen despite the latter's decision to ignore team orders at the Singapore Grand Prix.

In an eventful race for Scuderia Toro Rosso—Verstappen stalled on the grid, while Sainz suffered a temporary gearbox glitch—the pair found themselves running eighth and ninth respectively in the latter stages.

As they closed up behind Sergio Perez, Verstappen received a radio message from the pit wall advising him to swap positions with Sainz, who had fresher tyres fitted to his STR10, to give the Spaniard a chance to pass the Force India.

Verstappen, however, refused, and while Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost told Sky Sports' Mike Wise the 17-year-old was right to ignore the instruction, Sainz, per the same source, explained how he would have played "the team card" and let his team-mate "at least try" to pass Perez.

In Thursday's FIA press conference, Verstappen explained that "nothing has changed" in his relationship with Sainz, claiming the team must communicate more effectively in the future.

And Sainz agrees that the issue is between Verstappen and the pit wall, telling Motorsport.com's Pablo Elizalde:

"

Everything is OK. It has all been discussed, it has all been clarified.

I think both have no problem with anyone, and I think it was more the team and Max who had to clarify things between them.

It has been done as far as I know, and everything should be normal here.

My approach will not change. I now know more what Max is about.

He like to play a bit more maybe the bad boy role, and I kind of knew it, but he has now demonstrated this. But it will not change.

I'll keep trusting them and if they call something I will trust them.

"

Per the same source, Sainz stressed that obeying employees is "the best thing" a driver can do to establish themselves in F1, but he added he will act selfishly when necessary.

The silliness in Singapore was the latest example of Toro Rosso mishandling their drivers in 2015, with Sainz telling Marca (h/t GrandPrix.com) of his "anger" after Verstappen was given a preferential strategy, despite trailing his team-mate on track, in July's Hungarian GP.

Bernie Ecclestone Claims Ferrari Are Wary of 2016 Red Bull Engine Deal

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According to Motorsport.com's Jonathan Noble, Red Bull Racing's hopes of securing a Mercedes engine deal for the 2016 season ended when the German manufacturer went "cold on the idea" of strengthening a direct rival.

The Silver Arrows' refusal to join forces with the four-time world champions left Ferrari as Red Bull's only realistic option for next year.

But despite Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz and team principal Christian Horner holding discussions with Ferrari chairman Sergio Marchionne over the Italian Grand Prix weekend, per F1 journalist Byron Young, it seems the Prancing Horse also have reservations over gifting Red Bull a V6 turbo power unit.

Although Marchionne told Sky Sports' Pete Gill of his "respect" for Red Bull and his willingness to help the team "find their way again" at June's Austrian GP, F1 ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone has claimed the 63-year-old is having second thoughts.

With legendary designer Adrian Newey on their books, Red Bull have long been recognised as having the best chassis on the grid, but their fragile Renault engine has seen them win just three grands prix in the 18 months after their fourth consecutive championship triumph in 2013.

According to Speedweek (h/t Motorsport.com), Red Bull have threatened to quit F1 at the end of 2015 if they are denied a Ferrari engine partnership.

And while, Ecclestone claims, Marchionne is keen to support Red Bull for the sake of the sport, the Italian is increasingly fearful a Ferrari-powered Red Bull would pose a direct threat to his team, who are without a title of any kind since 2008.

Ecclestone told Autosport's Ian Parkes:

"

For Formula 1, he [Marchionne] would love to do it, to get Red Bull competitive with an engine, but he doesn't want to damage the team he runs.

If Red Bull get [a better] engine then they are obviously going to be competitive, it's an obvious concern, but he's frightened he's going to upset his team.

It's now down to Sergio to make up his mind, and I'm sure it will be sorted out shortly one way or the other.

"

The 84-year-old added that Red Bull's performance in the recent Singapore GP, where Daniel Ricciardo hounded Sebastian Vettel to the finish line, has only increased Marchionne's apprehension.

Manor Marussia Prepare for 'Emotional' Japanese GP Weekend

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The upcoming Japanese Grand Prix will mark Formula One's first return to the scene of Jules Bianchi's ultimately fatal accident in 2014, and the Manor Marussia team are bracing themselves for an emotional weekend at Suzuka.

In the latter stages of last year's rain-hit race, Bianchi's car left the track at the Dunlop Curve and collided with a recovery vehicle, and the driver suffered severe head injuries.

After nine months in a coma, Bianchi died in July, nine days ahead of the Hungarian GP. Each car ran with a tribute to the Frenchman during the race, and the drivers—many of whom attended his funeral just days earlier—welcomed members of his family into a pre-race huddle on the grid.

A member of Ferrari's young-driver scheme, Bianchi made each of his 34 grand prix appearances in the colours of Marussia, playing an integral role in the team's history.

After establishing himself as the backmarkers' lead driver in 2013, when they broke into the top 10 in the constructors' championship for the first time, Bianchi scored his and Marussia's first-ever points in the 2014 Monaco GP after a battling drive to ninth.

Bianchi's fighting spirit, which he showcased from his early career until the day he died, also played a role in Marussia's escape from administration at the beginning of the year. The team are now battered and bruised, but they are still competing in the pinnacle of motorsport.

And team principal John Booth, who has experienced the highs and lows in this most unforgiving yet alluring of sports, has declared his team will run in Bianchi's honour at Suzuka, telling Manor's official website:

"

There will be a rather more challenging backdrop for our team in Suzuka, after Jules’ devastating accident here last season. There is no escaping the fact that this will be an extremely emotional week for us.

[...]

It will also be a different emotional experience again from Monaco, a place full of so many special memories for our team, and Hungary, where we all had to say a very difficult goodbye to a greatly-loved friend and colleague. We think of Jules every single day; he will forever be a huge part of our team. Without doubt, our memories are overwhelmingly happy ones, celebrating his incredible achievements in our race cars and the enjoyable times we shared along the way. Jules’ funeral reminded us that he was a special gift to so many people, not least of all the magnificent Bianchi family, who are always in our thoughts and prayers.

[...[

Jules has not only been constantly in our thoughts since that terrible day in 2014, but his name has also been on our car at every single race. That tribute, our incredibly fond memories of Jules and the camaraderie we have within our team are all we need to race on in his honour in Suzuka this weekend.

"

As reported by Motorsport.com's Jonathan Noble, the Suzuka organisers have taken steps to guard against a similar accident to that suffered by Bianchi, with new drains installed around the circuit to prevent cars aquaplaning.

A crane has been placed behind the barriers at the Dunlop Curve—where flowers are positioned in remembrance of Bianchi—to allow marshals to recover cars without endangering themselves or the drivers.

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