Jenson Button must try harder this season if he wants to be assured of keeping his seat at McLaren, chairman Ron Dennis has warned.
The Briton’s contract with the team expires at the end of the season and speculation has linked several drivers with the position, but Dennis, who said he’s in “no rush” to finalise a line-up, says Button has nothing to worry about so long as he gives his all.
“No one should ever feel threatened, either as a driver or an engineer,” Dennis told SkySports. “All we want to do is win, and we have to take considered decisions in that process.
“I’m sure Kevin is giving a big wake-up call to Jenson,” he added, further hinting that the young Danish driver will be retained.
“In some ways you say ‘Great, we made a great choice with Kevin’, and in other ways you say ‘Come on Jenson, you are a world champion and absolutely one thing you can do on a consistent basis – and you should be doing it – is beating your team-mate’.
“Do I want him to try harder? Of course I do. He’s a highly paid grand prix driver, and yes, we’re not giving him the best car, but he could do his bit, and Kevin’s got to make it as difficult for him as possible.”
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