McLaren open to keeping Jenson Button despite full-time racing desire

McLaren says it is open to Jenson Button performing an ambassadorial role with the Formula 1 team alongside him racing in another category.

Button has been McLaren's reserve this term, filling in for Fernando Alonso in Monaco while the Spaniard contested the Indianapolis 500.

His current arrangement expires at the end of the year, with Button saying he is interested in a full-time racing role in 2018.

McLaren racing director Eric Boullier said while it cannot offer him a race seat in F1 in 2018, it would be open to continue working with him in some capacity.

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"He's looking for a full-time racing seat," said Boullier. "We don't have any.

Jenson Button (McLaren-Honda)

Image credit: Getty Images

"He's our ambassador and we would be happy to keep working with him in a role that suits both parties.

"But as far as racing is concerned, we have nothing to offer to him."

Boullier added any ambassadorial role would depend on what Button decides he will do next season.

Button has said he will be racing somewhere, but he is unsure whether it will be in America, Europe or Japan.

McLaren's Fernando Alonso, Jenson Button and Stoffel Vandoorne pose ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix

Image credit: Reuters

He did some media work at the British Grand Prix earlier this year but though he enjoyed it, he ruled out doing it full-time.

"I was at Silverstone, which was good fun," said Button. "It's nice to see the sport from another angle. I really enjoyed Silverstone.

"It was the first time I had been on the podium at the British Grand Prix [when he interviewed the top three].

"It was a nice feeling being up there with a British guy that had won.

"I enjoyed the weekend but it's not really my place to be commentating on races so much.

"I'm a driver still. I still have the passion and the love for driving.

"Now and again, I can see myself jumping in, which I'm doing, and that's fun. But being at every race, that's not for me, watching racing."

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