JENSON BUTTON has dismissed suggestions he has agreed to see out his career with McLaren despite signing a multi-year contract on Wednesday.
Button yesterday arguably gave the game away as to the length of his new deal by stating it is “a great opportunity over the next couple of years to really work closely with McLaren”.
As a driver who rediscovered his love for the sport after winning the world title in 2009, and after two relatively successful years at McLaren, thoughts of potential retirement are far from his mind. It means that if he has only signed on for two years, come the age of 34 as will be the case in 2014 he could be a free man again, and if still driving as well as he is now, again in demand.
Button had been linked with Ferrari and Red Bull for 2013, which is why McLaren responded by nailing him down to a contract beyond next season.
But asked whether it would be his last, he said: “Not necessarily.
“Probably two years ago I would have said definitely, and even last year I probably would have said definitely.
“But time flies and when I decide I want to retire from Formula One I think will end up going back and back.
“Hopefully it will be my decision. So it (the new contract) might be my last or it might not be. I don’t know.”
