Boullier: Button’s McLaren future not under discussion yet
McLaren team boss Eric Boullier says 2016 driver decisions are not a priority, despite speculation over Jenson Button’s contract and the team’s options for next season.
McLaren’s 2016 Formula One driver line-up remains undecided, with racing director Eric Boullier stating that the team’s focus is elsewhere despite growing speculation about Jenson Button’s future. Button, the 2009 world champion, is in his sixth season at McLaren and currently partners Fernando Alonso.
Although McLaren’s Ron Dennis has previously said Button has a two-year contract, sources indicate that the deal is a one-year agreement with an option for 2016. This means McLaren must confirm Button’s place for next season by a set deadline, or the driver will be free to negotiate with other teams, including Williams, which has been linked to him in the past.
McLaren’s options beyond Button
McLaren has two highly regarded junior drivers in reserve: Kevin Magnussen, who raced for the team in 2014, and Stoffel Vandoorne, the current GP2 frontrunner. Either could be promoted if McLaren opts for a change, but the team is said to be pleased with Button’s performances alongside Alonso during a difficult season for the Honda-powered squad.
- Button has outperformed expectations in a struggling car.
- Magnussen and Vandoorne are both under contract but without confirmed 2016 race seats.
No immediate decision on 2016 line-up
When asked in Hungary about the likely 2016 line-up, Boullier said the driver question is not a current priority. He reiterated that both Button and Alonso are under contract for 2016, echoing Dennis’s earlier comments, though the exact terms of Button’s deal leave room for interpretation. The team’s immediate focus remains on improving its performance after a challenging season, rather than confirming its future line-up.
