While he was effusive in his praise of Button, making clear that there is a contract in place for Button to carry on – the package was agreed when he re-signed last December – Neale suggested the 35-year-old did not want to stay.
“If your driver doesn’t want to be in the seat, you have to respect that,” Neale added.
Button said on Thursday that he did not want to disclose any more publicly out of respect for McLaren. It seems that both sides are trying to ensure an amicable and harmonious separation.
Unlike Mark Webber, who told Red Bull team principal Christian Horner he was leaving just 10 minutes before he publicly announced his departure, Button wants to leave on good terms.
Button in wet practice in Japan
“It’s just respectfully between the team and myself,” Button added. “That’s what you do when you’re in business with people. And when you work for a company. Over the past year we’ve got a lot closer as a team.
“It’s been a very difficult year for everyone and it’s brought everyone a lot closer. So, mutual respect, and what decision we make will be good for all of us. It will be the right decision. It’s a very different situation to 10 months ago [when he was given a last-minute reprieve by McLaren]. And I’m happy to be in the situation I’m in.”