Thursday 11th December 2014

Jenson Button to stay at McLaren!

UPDATE: McLaren confirms JB will partner Alonso. They're disagreeing already...

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It's official! Jenson Button will drive for McLaren-Honda in 2015 with Fernando Alonso. Kevin Magnussen remains in the team as test and reserve driver.

"Just woken up, what's going on?" Tweeted Button

So is it time to be excited by McLaren-Honda returns to F1? The team is understandably rating its chances, suggesting the three drivers will now begin 're-establishing the ascendancy of one of global sports most iconic unions' and also one of motorsport's 'most dominant partnerships'. It has quite a legacy to live up to second time round, with McLaren-Honda originally winning 44 times in 88 races between 1988 and 1992.

Of course it's impossible to mention McLaren-Honda without Ayrton Senna. Alonso has described the Brazilian in his comments as "my favourite driver, my idol on track, my reference." Moreover, apparently denying rumours he will leave if results aren't immediately impressive, Alonso added: "I am joining this project with enormous enthusiasm and determination, knowing that it may require some time to achieve the results we are aiming for, which is no problem for me."

Alonso worships Senna, Button likes Prost - incendiary?

2015 will be Jenson Button's sixth season with McLaren and you will be pleased to know he's already causing mischief with his new teammate. Jenson's favourite old McLaren-Honda driver? Alain Prost... "I admired Ayrton Senna enormously, but, for me, it was the exploits of his McLaren-Honda team-mate Alain Prost that inspired me most as a boy... I have tried to emulate his driving style ever since." We all know how that one ended!

Button of course has a great deal of experience with Honda having used cars powered by them between 2003 and 2008. Of the new agreement he said: "Being a part of new-look McLaren-Honda is a wonderful opportunity for all of us... I am absolutely raring to go."

Next for the McLaren Honda team will be the Jerez testing in February ahead of the first race in Australia. Should be a good season!

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Original story, as reported 0900h 11/12/2014:
There is nothing confirmed currently but it appears very likely that Jenson Button will be retained by McLaren for the 2015 F1 season. Following Fernando Alonso's return to the team there has been endless speculation about whether Button or Kevin Magnussen will partner him. Now many news reports are stating that Button will officially be announced as Alonso's team mate later this morning.

All smiles at McLaren, for now at least

The case for Button from the 2014 season was a good one. He had outqualified Magnussen in 10 of the season's races but, perhaps more relevantly, also scored more than double the points with 126 compared to 55.

It has also been said that Button will only be on a one-year deal with a salary 'reduced by at least half' from his 2014 wage. There has been no comment from either Button or Magnussen on the impending announcement. We'll update the story as soon as there's anything new!

[Source: BBC, Prost/Senna image: LAT]

[hammo19]

Hopefully the story is true. The right decision for the sport. JB is a great ambassador for F1, his team and his fans. I also hope McLaren have the sense to retain Kevin as reserve/test driver as he has proven his capability this year too.