McLaren have announced that Jenson Button is to stay with the team in 2016.

The Brit will remain with the Woking team for a seventh season following huge speculation he was ready to retire from the sport. His future was the subject of the media at this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix, where many expected him to announce his retirement.

Button tweeted on Thursday morning that he was "Very pleased to announce" that he was staying at McLaren for at least one more season. He signed a two year contract at the start of this season with the second year option expiring last night. 

2015 hasn't been the best season for Button and McLaren, due to the reunion with Honda not quite going as it should. He only has six points to his name this season, while McLaren languish in ninth in the Constructor's Championship.

The 2009 World Champion said he'd "done a lot of thinking" recently and that he was "in two minds" about his future. There were huge rumours he was going to join Mark Webber in the World Endurance Championship for next season.

McLaren CEO Ron Dennis said the announcement is "very pleasing"  and he believes it will also "motivate all at McLaren-Honda."

Button started his career in 2000 with Williams, and then moving to Benetton/Renault for two years before moving to BAR Honda in 2003. 2009 saw Button's fairytale as he went from no drive to world champion following Honda pulling out ferom the sport and Ross Brawn taking over the team.

However the future of team mate Fernando Alonso is still up in the air with the rumours at the weekend saying he will leave the team following the team's poor performance. He called the MP4-30's power unit "a GP2 engine".

The news will not please reserve drivers Kevin Magnussen and Stoffel Vandoorne as they continue to be frozen out of seats with the team. Magnussen is rumoured to join new outfit Haas while Vandoorne is expected to be promoted to the reserve seat at McLaren.

VAVEL Logo
About the author
Aaron Irwin
Formula 1 editor, Football League co-editor at VAVEL UK. Writer since July 2014. Hull City correspondent. Currently studying for a Journalism degree at Hull School of Art and Design.