McLaren racing director, Eric Boullier, has hinted that Jenson Button will remain with the team in 2016 after declaring that the Woking team expects all four of its drivers to race next season.
Both Fernando Alonso and Button have a contract with the team, however the Briton’s is just an option which McLaren can choose to take up or not, without consequences.
McLaren chairman Ron Dennis previously stated that Button’s seat was safe, but there is increasing pressure on the team to get GP2 leader Stoffel Vandoorne on the grid, whilst Kevin Magnussen is also waiting in the wings for his return.
“As far as we are concerned, McLaren have only two cars, only two race seats and we have two world champions and we do intend to keep them so far,” he said in Monza.
“We expect the four of them to race [in 2016],” Boullier added. “It’s a luxury problem to have four good drivers.
“Kevin and Stoffel are very good. Both of them we expect to race in Formula 1 and if we can’t fit or accommodate them we will do our best to make sure they can race next year.”
It’s expected McLaren will attempt to place Magnussen and Vandoorne with a backmarker team such as Manor as much of the grid is already confirmed, however the claims will continue to fuel rumours of a McLaren B-team.
