Button, 34, has grown increasingly weary of questions over his future and age
this year, but he conceded last weekend in Belgium that he could be forced
into retirement at the end of the season.
“We haven’t sat down and talked about it,” the Englishman told the BBC. “If I
have to retire at the end of the season then so be it, but I feel I have so
much more to give and I can’t imagine life without motorsport and especially
Formula One.”
Eric Boullier, the McLaren racing director, admitted that the situation was
“uncomfortable” for both his drivers, but he said that the team were keeping
their options open for as long as possible. Boullier said: “It is true that
with Ron [Dennis] being back since January and me being new into the team we
have asked for a little bit more time than necessary, but we can afford this
time, even if it is uncomfortable for the drivers, which I understand. We
have to put our priorities [first].”
Marco Mattiacci, the Ferrari team principal, has said publicly that he expects
Alonso to stay in 2015, but there has been no official confirmation. It is
thought that a move to McLaren for 2016 is more likely, as it will allow
Alonso time to evaluate the new McLaren-Honda partnership as well as any
potential Ferrari improvement. That scenario would give Button one more year
in the sport, although McLaren are monitoring Lewis Hamilton’s situation at
Mercedes, as well as both the Red Bull drivers, Sebastian Vettel and Daniel
Ricciardo.
While Alonso has a contract until the end of 2016, it is thought that it
contains a performance clause allowing the 33-year-old Spaniard to leave if
Ferrari fail to finish third in the constructors’ championship.
With seven races remaining, Ferrari are third, but their cushion over Williams
in fourth is just 10 points. The Grove-based team have been quicker for much
of the year, and the rising star Valtteri Bottas now has five podiums in the
past six races.
Despite the speculation, McLaren acknowledge they have much bigger problems
than their drivers. Their 2014 car, with the best engine, is still well off
the pace. Their old knack for improving troubled machines in the middle of a
season seems to have disappeared, and the organisation at Woking is still
regarded as too top heavy. However, there is hope thanks to their
reunification with Honda, as well as the arrival of highly regarded
designers such as Peter Prodromou from Red Bull.
Yet, a star signing in the driver market would buoy the team and show Honda
that despite troubled times McLaren still have significant clout. It would
leave Button on the brink and little time for the Englishman to sort out
another drive for the 2015 season.