05/10/2011
NEWS STORY
McLaren has announced that it has signed a new "multi year" contract with Jenson Button.
The Briton's future with the Woking team has been the subject of speculation for some time with both sides insisting that though they wanted the deal to happen there were certain other factors that needed to be agreed.
While there has been talk linking the 2009 champion with Ferrari, it is believed that McLaren wanted to tie him into a deal which would keep him once his F1 career is at an end, possibly leading the team at Le Mans and also as a brand ambassador.
"I've never felt more at home at a team than I do at McLaren," said the Englishman. "I've won four of the greatest races of my life here, I'm currently lying second in the drivers' world championship, and I feel that I'm driving better than ever.
"You can only achieve that with the right level of support," he continued, "and I truly believe that the passion and determination to win are stronger here at McLaren than anywhere else.
As a grand prix driver, those are incredibly powerful feelings to share and be part of, and they've only reinforced my desire to commit my long-term future to this team. I've made no secret of my ambition to continue winning races and world championships, and I fully believe this is the place where I can achieve those aims. We at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes know how to win, and we're busy refining an organisation that will enable us to keep on doing that for years to come."
"It's great news that Jenson has chosen to stay with McLaren," added teammate Lewis Hamilton. "Jenson has been a great person to work with, and a genuine team-player, from the moment we welcomed him on board.
"McLaren is a team with a unique and successful tradition in Formula 1, which I'm proud to be part of. It was the best moment of my career when I won the drivers' world championship with this team. Jenson and I are as hungry and as ambitious as ever to win races and world championships in the future."
"Jenson is a great driver and a great guy," said team principal, Martin Whitmarsh. "In fact, I can safely say that he's one of the most capable and respected drivers we've ever had, and I'm therefore absolutely delighted that he'll continue to work with us into the future.
"He's a considerable credit to this organisation, and I'm proud to be his Team Principal. I feel sure that he'll now build on the considerable success he's already achieved with us, and will be even more successful with us in years to come.
"I think he and Lewis say it better than anyone. Their comments show just how much they respect and trust each other, and they once again continue to prove what we as a team have always known: that Vodafone McLaren Mercedes has the very best driver line-up in all of Formula 1."