McLaren driver Jenson Button negotiating his Formula One future

McLaren Formula One driver Jenson Button of Britain gestures before racing in a virtual simulator during publicity events ahead of the Singapore F1 night race in Singapore 16 September 2015. The Singapore F1 Grand Prix night race takes place from 18 September 2015 - Reuters

Reuters: Jenson Button says his Formula One future is close to being decided and if he does race on next season it will only be with his beloved McLaren.

The 35-year-old, the second oldest driver currently in the sport, is weighing up whether he will go around again next year or end a 16-year career in which he won the 2009 world championship.

“We’re not there yet,” he told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday (16 September) before this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix.

“It’s always a difficult situation when you’ve had such a long career in Formula One, but also such a long career with a certain team, with McLaren.

“Whichever way it goes it’s not an easy decision but hopefully over the next few weeks we can let you know.”

Button’s future has been the source of some speculation after a frustrating season in an uncompetitive Honda-engined car, in which he has finished just seven of the first 12 races, with a best position of eighth. McLaren are ninth of the ten competing teams with just 17 points, Button’s teammate the 2005 and 2006 world champion Fernando Alonso of Spain having scored eleven.

But Button, who joined McLaren in 2010 and a year after he won the world title with Brawn, said any indecision was not related to the team’s performance this season.

“I can’t give you too many details but away from whose decision it is, obviously you have to look at where you are in your life,” he said.

“I’ve been racing in Formula One for a long time and I’ve still got a massive love for motor racing and Formula One.

“If I am racing in Formula One next year and in the future I want to be with McLaren. It’s a team I’ve spent so many years with, gone through some great times and bad times as well,” added the Briton.

“I definitely want to be here but there’s just things we need to talk over and make sure we’re all on the same page.”

Some media speculation earlier in the season had linked Button to a return to Williams, where he made his debut in 2000, but that possibility ended when the former world champions announced an unchanged lineup for 2016.

With other top teams also opting for continuity, Button’s future has moved into focus with McLaren also committed to bringing on Danish reserve Kevin Magnussen and Belgian Stoffel Vandoorne.

Button’s immediate concern is the Singapore Grand Prix which is affected by smoke, drifting from agricultural fires in Sumatra. It has formed a slight smog hanging over Singapore.

“Here, I don’t think the visibility’s a problem at all. Looking at what I’ve seen in the news, it is a bit unhealthy, the smog or whatever you call it here, but hopefully with the rain that we’ve had, it’s going to clear it away because it’s very difficult walking around in the streets. You can smell the smoke but when you’re pushing yourself to the maximum in the car and you’re having to take big gulps of air. That’s a big issue,” he said.

The only two races where Button has scored points this year, Monaco and Hungary, were both slow circuits, where outright speed is less important, and Singapore’s tight street circuit should favour McLaren’s Honda engine too, although other teams with Mercedes and Renault engines will probably be stronger.

“I don’t think it’ll be all Mercedes’ own way,” Button said. “They (Red Bull) should make for a very good race. Throw the Ferraris in the mix and it could be a pretty good fight at the front. We won’t be there but hopefully we’ll be in the next pack fighting for those positions.”

There is wet weather in Singapore which could affect the race too. Button said that the combination of a night race on tight streets with rain would be exciting for spectators, even if drivers wished it were dry.