Jenson Button is poised to quit Formula One this week
Alonso was equivocal when asked about his future on Saturday night, simply saying: “I will not go anywhere else.”
Many in the paddock suspected that comments by Flavio Briatore, his long-time manager, were signalling that Alonso would abandon his £25-million-a-year contract two seasons early.
But Dennis said on Sunday that both Alonso and Button will also be with the team in 2016. It caps a chaotic week for the team, who at one stage feared losing both their star drivers.
After the Japanese Grand Prix, Alonso appeared to contradict himself about whether he will be in F1 with McLaren next year.
He said: “Next year is what we are looking for. My intention is to stay for sure and we will win together, I’m sure.”
Then asked directly if he will be racing in F1 next year he replied: “I don’t know.”
McLaren are also set to lose two major sponsors at the end of this season, with Johnnie Walker and Santander set to leave at a cost of £15 million.
On the way out: Could Jenson Button retire at the end of the season?
All weekend Button has done nothing to dampen reports that he is set to retire. He reiterated his comments in Singapore about a lack of joy racing at the back and simply said there were “many possibilities”.
Jonathan Neale, McLaren’s chief operating officer, even let it slip in the Friday press conference by saying: “If the driver doesn’t want to be in the seat, you have to respect that.”
But Dennis spoke to the driver on Sunday morning to confirm his future for next season, persuading Button it is worth giving the McLaren-Honda pairing one more season to come good.