Jenson Button has no interest in joining 2016-start-up team Haas and says he will only drive for McLaren if he is to stay in F1 next year.
Button's future beyond the end of this season has not been confirmed with rumours either Kevin Magnussen or Stoffel Vandoorne could take his place. The 2016 grid is starting to take shape and the Haas line-up is one of the few pairings left to speculate on, but when asked directly if he would be interested Button ruled himself out.
"If I am in F1, it will be with this team [Mclaren]," he said. "I have had some tough times with this team, but I have a lot of respect for the whole team and Honda. This is the team for the future and I don't think there is any point at looking at a smaller, younger start-up programme. To be fair to this team, it is very young still in terms of our relationship with Honda and powerplant itself. This will improve a lot over the years."
But Button said it is not clear how long it will take for McLaren and Honda to start making progress.
"Of course, you look forward and look at how many years until you are fighting up front. That is what you are here to do in the grand scheme of things. We are both world champions and we have that hunger for winning and that addiction to winning. This year has been interesting. Having Fernando as a team-mate has been great and I have really enjoyed the year. When you are fighting near the back, you still have the chance to fight with someone that is very talented, as experienced as myself, so it has been a lot of fun.
"That feeling doesn't last though and you want to start winning races. I do feel that everyone is working very hard at MTC and Sakura, they are not just waiting for things to happen, they are trying to make things happen. It's a time thing, it is very difficult how long it will take. I am a very positive person, as Fernando is, and we hope for the best."
Asked if the decision on his future was his, Button added: "I can't answer that one this weekend
McLaren are hoping for a stronger result this weekend and Button believes points are possible for the first time since the Hungarian Grand Prix.
"I think so. The first three teams, Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull, then there is a gaggle of cars fighting to seventh place. It is not a Monaco here, in terms of... it still has straights. It is a pretty good circuit for us in terms of deployment, we don't run out as seriously as we have in the last couple of races and we are good in low speed corners. High speed corners we have a bit of work to do, but low speed