Jenson Button not driving for 2015 seat, says McLaren boss

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McLaren driver Jenson ButtonImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Jenson Button has raced in Formula 1 since 2000

McLaren racing director Eric Boullier says Jenson Button is not racing for a place in the 2015 team despite uncertainly over next season's line-up.

Boullier said he will name the 2015 pairing before the end of the season with the futures of drivers Button, 34, and Kevin Magnussen under threat.

Button produced his best performances of the season in the last two races.

"We don't need him to deliver an extra job on track to - let's say - save his job," Boullier said.

"We know the value of Jenson and we know he is a world champion-class driver and he has been a world champion already."

Jenson Button at McLaren

Points

Position

2010

214

5

2011

270

2

2012

188

5

2013

73

9

2014*

94

7

*up to, and including, the 2014 Russian Grand Prix

Double world champion Fernando Alonso has been linked with McLaren with the Spaniard set to leave Ferrari at the end of the season.

Button has scored nearly double Magnussen's points this year, finishing fifth in Japan and fourth in Russia in his last two races.

But the Dane's qualifying pace has impressed and he has started ahead of his team-mate nine times to Button's seven in his rookie season.

"I understand obviously that (Button) may not feel comfortable and obviously he's concerned about his future," Boullier added.

"I'm in charge of McLaren Racing and we have to build the best for the team. Drivers are obviously very important in the discussion and Jenson is more than considered to stay with us for the long term.

"But we are still investigating what we want to do with our driver line-up, once we have all the data in our hands."

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