McLaren-Honda has confirmed that Jenson Button will race for the team in 2016.

The news, officially confirmed by the Woking outfit this morning, follows weeks, if not months of speculation over the Briton's future, indeed that of his team.

It will mark the highly popular driver's 17th season in F1 since making his debut with Williams in 2000 and will hopefully – with 305 races under his belt – see him become the third most experienced driver in the history of the sport, Michael Schumacher having contested 306 Grands Prix and Rubens Barrichello 322.

"Jenson and I have been discussing his plans in private for the past few weeks, and the fact that our talks have led to today's announcement is very pleasing to both of us and will delight and motivate all at McLaren-Honda," said Ron Dennis.

"As I have made clear whenever I have been asked about the subject, Jenson's current contract is of two years'; duration [2015 and 2016]. There is a 'terminate after year one' option that McLaren could have triggered if we had wished to do so, but, once it became clear from my many conversations with Jenson that he remained as enthusiastic and as committed and as focused as ever, that option immediately became an irrelevance. That being the case, Jenson will race for McLaren-Honda next year, under the terms and conditions as set out in the two-year contract that both parties entered into a year ago.

"As I say, I am extremely pleased. Jenson is the most experienced driver currently racing in Formula 1, and next season he is due to become only the third driver in Formula 1 history to pass the milestone of 300 Grands Prix. But, although that wealth of experience makes him a massively valuable asset to our team, hugely expert in all aspects of the 21st-century Formula 1 driver's craft, he is also supremely fit and as super-fast as ever."

"Over the past month or so I have done quite a lot of thinking, and it is no secret that I was at one point in two minds about my future," added Button.

"But I have been a McLaren driver for six seasons now [2010-2015], and in that time I have got to know Ron very well. He and I have had some very good chats these past few weeks, and during those chats it has become clear to me that Ron is both utterly determined and uniquely equipped to lead our team through its current difficulties to great successes in the future. That gives me great confidence, and it is for that reason that, together, he and I have decided to continue our partnership; and, as soon as I had made that decision, straight away I realised it was the correct one.

"Okay, granted, this year has not been an easy one for us, but we know what we need to do to improve things and, in collaboration with Honda, we will work extremely hard over the next weeks and months in order to make sure that 2016 will be a much better season than 2015 has been.

"I can't wait!"

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by scf1fan, 02/10/2015 16:37

"I'll be a bit contrary here, particularly since I've read elsewhere that RD tried to get JB to accept a "Low Ball" salary offer . . . I don't think McLaren will be worth it next year, so perhaps an offer from Haas (with a Ferrari in the back) would have made more sense for JB. I know a lot of people feel that Alonso is a better driver (and I won't really argue against that) but how much has FA cost RD and McLaren? Then how much has the decision to split from MB (because they didn't want to be a customer team) and go with Honda cost RD and McLaren? And McLaren thinks so much of JB to try to stiff him?

In the early part of his career, I thought JB lacked a bit of seriousness. If I remember correctly he was driving for Williams (or had a contract) and then had to buy himself out in order to go somewhere else. Then he wound up at BAR and was very lucky to manage to hang on when Ross Brawn took that over. I do agree that he is very smooth and consistent, and not prone to huge foul ups. So those characteristics would have been very good for Haas. "

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2. Posted by Teardrop., 01/10/2015 21:35

"I remember RD stood up in front of us all in the early 80,s and said from the ashes will rise the phoenix , how true.
let's hope 2016 is the year. good to hear JB is part of that. "

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3. Posted by Ro, 01/10/2015 15:29

"Brilliant news! He is by far the smoothest driver in F1. Only question now, who will be his team-mate next season ???"

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Official McLaren confirms Button for 2016

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