Formula 1 teams have settled their contracts with drivers for the 2016 season, with just four places to be confirmed.
McLaren finally agreed terms with former world champion Jenson Button to see him line up on the grid alongside Fernando Alonso.
Button signed a two year contract for the 2015 and 2016 seasons last year, but McLaren had the option of dropping him.
After some tough talking between the team managers and Button, both have agreed he will start for the team next season.
Both sides have heaped praise on each other after the negotiations.
Retirement rumour
McLaren say Button was always their choice and that he is committed to their cause, while Button unsurprisingly announced he never wanted to go and is confident the team can achieve a good finish in next year’s campaign.
The rumour was Button was readying to announce his retirement from top class racing.
The current driver line-up for 2016 is:
- Mercedes: Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg
- Ferrari: Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen
- Williams: Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas
- Red Bull: Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat
- Force India: Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Pérez
- Lotus: Pastor Maldonado. Second driver to be confirmed
- Toro Rosso: Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen
- Sauber: Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr
- McLaren: Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button
- Manor Marussia: Drivers to be confirmed
- Haas: Romain Grosjean. Second driver to be confirmed
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton is celebrating after notching his 41st Grand Prix win, equalling the record of the great Ayrton Senna.
Mercedes success
Hamilton now has a 48 point lead at the head of the driver’s championship with six races to go.
Mercedes co-driver Nico Rosberg is in second place.
The pair have won 11 out of 14 grand prix this season.
The season ends at Abu Dhabi on November 29.
After the break, the 2016 season starts at Melbourne, Australia, on April 3.
McLaren are looking at a new sponsorship deal with Honda to try to upgrade their engines to match the all-conquering Mercedes this season.
Mercedes have agreed to supply engines to the Manor Marussia team.
The Mercedes power plant is regarded as the best in the championship and a key reason for the team’s outstanding success
Manor also have a deal with Williams to provide transmission and suspension.
The new links could see a major upturn in form for the Manor team, regarded as minnows on the circuit.
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