The team may look to save on his wages – around £8 million a season – and bring in a young charger such as Stoffel Vandoorne, who is dominating the GP2 feeder series. Vandoorne and Kevin Magnussen, who was dropped at the end of 2014, are both highly regarded by Ron Dennis, the McLaren chairman, and Eric Boullier, the racing director.
With McLaren woefully uncompetitive and a long way from the front, there is also a question mark as to whether Button would want to carry on, particularly when he could walk into one of the best sportscar teams and challenge for the iconic Le Mans 24 Hours.
Button said: “I would be pretty happy if I retired now with my career in terms of achievements. I would love to win the British Grand Prix, I would love to even be on the podium. It is a shame because I can imagine it is an unbelievably emotional experience that you share with all the fans out there that I have never been able to do.”
The 2009 world champion has had several near misses in the British Grand Prix. Four years ago he was comfortably in contention for a podium when a botched McLaren pit-stop meant one of the tyres came loose. Last season he was fourth, chasing down Daniel Ricciardo in the closing stages, but could not make a pass.
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“Last year probably hurt the most because I thought we had a good chance of getting a podium even though our car wasn’t very quick,” Button said. “It has always been a tricky one, it’s not been through not having enough speed or not enjoying the place, I love this circuit to drive. It has just not worked out.”
Since the middle of last year Button has been used to brushing off questions about when his glittering career will draw to a close.
He added: “I’m not going into this thinking it will be my last British Grand Prix, because what does that change? It’s not going to help my career. I’m looking forward to it. It’s one of the busiest weeks of my life, but also one of the best. Whatever happens in the race, I’ll get on the stage with all the fans and have a wicked 20 minutes. It’s a great rapport, a great atmosphere.
“I decided early last year that you live in the moment a lot more, and savour certain moments a lot more, because you take things for granted in life, all of us. So you’ve got to enjoy every moment that you can.”
Meanwhile, F1’s Strategy Group announced yesterday that the hated grid penalties which afflicted Button’s Austrian Grand Prix, where he was given an absurd drop of 25 places, will be dropped from the next race in Hungary.
Moves to reduce driver aids, including help with the starts, will also begin with the Belgian Grand Prix next month. They also pledged to improve the noise of the cars for next year.