Martin Whitmarsh says McLaren want Jenson Button for 2012 season – Formula 1 news
McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh has said that the team wants Jenson Button for the 2012 season, as they are very impressed with his performance in the 2011 Formula 1 season.
Whitmarsh added that they are looking to sign Button for McLaren until the end of his Formula 1 career.
The Brit signed a contract with the Woking-based outfit in 2010 with an option of 2012 F1 season. However, due to his strong performance in the ongoing season, the team wants to sign him for the rest of his career in the sport.
Whitmarsh commented, “Jenson Button will be with us next year. There is nothing that needs to be sorted. He will be with us next year. We know that, he knows that. But we’re looking to do a deal that will see him race for McLaren for the rest of his career.”
He went on to mention, “Jenson is a mature and very intelligent guy. And he is still as fit as a flea and still hungry to race. He could take on an ambassador’s role. We’re looking into GT racing and Le Mans and there’s no reason why he can’t use his experience
in those projects.”
On the other hand, Button talked to the media and stated that he wants to stay at McLaren, because he is happy with them. The 31-year-old driver added that he believes he can win the championship by staying with McLaren, as they have a competitive car.
The team driver further said that he is always excited for the big teams, which included Ferrari and Williams but it does not mean he wants to drive for them.
In the recently held 2011 Italian Grand Prix, Button impressed the fans by taking a second position after struggling with his MP4-26 car at the Monza racetrack.
He finished his Monza race on the podium with a gap of 9.5 seconds from Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel, who was the winner of the Grand Prix.
Button is sitting at the third position with 167 points ahead of Vettel’s teammate Mark Webber in the 2011 drivers’ championship.
Let’s see how he performs in the last stages of the ongoing season following his strong 2011 Italian Grand Prix.
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