Jenson Button has confirmed he is not guaranteed to drive for McLaren next season as speculation about 2016's driver line-up intensifies.
Button's future was subject to a long period of speculation last year as McLaren repeatedly delayed the decision on whether to retain the 2009 world champion or Kevin Magnussen to partner Fernando Alonso. Button eventually got the nod over his rookie team-mate to extend his career into a 16th season this year.
While Alonso's contract is a binding for three years, it is believed the final year of Button's two-year deal is an 'option' on McLaren's side. When pressed on the speculation during the British GP, Ron Dennis told Sky Sports F1: "Jenson Button has a two-year contract with McLaren. We are not even thinking about drivers at the moment."
However, Button was far from certain about his future when asked, telling Sky Sports this week: "It is not a given, no. There are always options everywhere."
"We are not thinking about next year. We are thinking about trying to improve the car this year. We have got a lot of work on our hands, and it is going to be a tough year but we are giving it our all."
McLaren is currently spoilt for choice for 2016, with Magnussen still in a role at the team and junior driver Stoffel Vandoorne enjoying a sensational campaign in GP2. Vandoorne has already admitted that winning the GP2 championship, a scenario which already looks likely with a 65 point lead at the mid-way stage, would not guarantee him a seat in F1 next season.
The 2016 driver line market may hinge around Ferrari and whether it decides to retain Kimi Raikkonen for another season. If it does not, Valtteri Bottas, Nico Hulkenberg and Daniel Ricciardo have all been tipped to replace the Finn, with each potentially triggering movement around the grid if they were to switch to Ferrari.
There are rumours suggesting Button would be in line to replace Bottas at Williams if the Finn moved to Ferrari. Button started his illustrious F1 career with Williams in 2000.