McLaren confirm Button will stay

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh has confirmed Jenson Button will be with the team next season.

Following the Belgian Grand Prix just under a fortnight ago, Button urged Whitmarsh to finally take up the option on his contract for 2012 given his desire to remain with the Woking-based marque.

At the time Button said: “All he (Whitmarsh) has to do is say yes, and I will say yes because I want to be here next year.

“It’s up to the team as to when they approach me, but for me I’m the happiest I’ve been with the car.”

Whitmarsh has now confirmed the 31-year-old will see out the final year of the three-year deal he signed at the end of 2009 following his title-winning campaign with Brawn GP.

Asked by Press Association Sport about the situation, Whitmarsh said: “Jenson will be with us next year. Full stop.

“There is nothing that needs to be sorted, he will be with us next year.”

Speaking ahead of this weekend's Italian Grand Prix, Button has further reiterated his love for McLaren and how content he is behind the wheel.

After hitting a purple patch of late with his win in Hungary and third place at Spa, having been relegated to 19th in the early part of the race, Button believes he is currently at his peak.

“I’m very happy with the car, confident in the direction we have taken with it, and I feel it suits my style, which is good,” said Button.

“I feel it’s going to continue here. I feel good in the car and I have the confidence to really throw it around, which is maybe the biggest thing, and the difference from other seasons.

“I think that will show in qualifying over the next few races as I feel I am driving as well as I ever have.

“I’m really enjoying it (Formula One) as well, which is massively important.

“Of course, I’m still going to make mistakes, such as in qualifying in the last race.

“But more often than not we get it right when it comes to strategy and calls we make during a race. We just have to keep that going.”

In terms of going forward into next season, Button believes it is vital the team learn from the mistakes made this year if he is to challenge for the championship again.

Over the winter McLaren set off in the wrong direction with regard to the development of their car, forcing them onto the backfoot as the season-opener approached in Australia.

“I really don’t know how good we’re going to be next year at this moment in time,” added Button.

“Everyone starts building their cars earlier and earlier for the next season, so for us to say we’re going to do a better job than anyone else, how can we judge that?

“Ferrari are saying they’re going to rule Formula One for the next 300 years or something!

“But I don’t know how quick we’re going to be next year. I just hope we’re competitive.

“We learned a lot this season in terms of trying new things over the winter and being ready for the first test and not wasting time over the testing period.

“Basically all the testing for us over the winter was pointless in a way. We then put on the new exhaust system at the first race and it was great.

“Maybe if we had started with that exhaust system and we had spent three weeks testing it we could have improved it even further, and we could have gone to the first race and won it.

“It’s definitely taking calculated risks over the winter when it comes to new parts like the exhaust, which has become such a big part of the car this year.”

As for this year, with Button 110 points behind championship leader Sebastian Vettel with 175 available, he admits it has now become a case of having fun rather than going for the title.

“It’s not decided yet, but if anyone can beat Sebastian it’s going to be very impressive, and if they do beat him then they will have had a terrific end to the year,” said Button.

“We just have to make sure every race we do we’re meticulous when it comes down to the detail of the car and making sure everything we put on it is going to be 100% reliable.

“We have to try and go out to win every race for the rest of the year, not so much for the title but just for our enjoyment.

“It’s such a special feeling within the team when you do win that we want more this season, even if we can’t win the championship.”

Button was forced to settle for seventh quickest at the end of the two practice sessions for Sunday’s race, with team-mate Lewis Hamilton and Vettel setting the pace.