Jenson Button says a "really exciting" meeting at McLaren's factory helped convince him to stay with the team for 2016.
Following a difficult first year for the McLaren-Honda partnership, Button considered his future in F1 before agreeing to remain with the team next year. Having had his contract extension confirmed last week, Button says it came after discussions about the future of the team at the McLaren Technology Centre [MTC] in Woking.
"Yes I had thoughts about what direction I would take if I wasn’t here next year and what I could possibly do but it wasn’t in my mind very long," Button said.
"But there were things I needed more information on, where this team is going, and that’s why I spent a lot of time with Ron [Dennis] on the phone but also at the MTC last week. A lot of time with engineers, aerodynamicist, running through everything on the engine programme, and that’s the reason I decided to say."
And Button says the plans for McLaren's future are one of the main motivations for him heading in to 2016.
"I’ve never had such a long engineering meeting as we had last week. It’s just really exciting and the relationship we have is fantastic anyway. I’ve been here five years, there’s a good relationship there and I bring a lot to the team in terms of feedback, which helps development. That’s also important to me, I don’t just want to be a driver who drives the car, I want to develop, I want to help, I want to direct this team and help this team."
However, Button says he did not seek guarantees that he would be able to stay with McLaren beyond next season. Asked if one condition of staying was knowing the door is open after 2016, Button replied: "No, not necessarily.
"That wasn’t part of the discussion. You’ve just got to see how next year goes, we’re always trying to look further into the future aren’t we, especially you guys!"
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