Will Button leave Formula 1?

Speculation over the future of McLaren’s Jenson Button has once again arisen in the press after their difficult start to the Formula 1 season that has seen the team pick up only 5 points over the course of the season.

The 2009 World Champion and his teammate, the two time World Champion Fernando Alonso have been left frustrated by the performance of their car, that has seen Honda criticized over their engine that has been a disaster for the once perennial title contenders.

Button himself has been fighting a losing battle with the car alongside teammate Alonso with hopes that the car will improve before the back-end of the season fading. Button’s performance, has been noted as being strong despite problems with the car and he has outscored his teammate at four points t one this season and yet it is still widely known among Formula 1 circle’s that Alonso is the number one driver for McLaren and has a contract through the next two season’s, though some are doubting after the problems this season, Alonso may yet move onto pastures new.

Button has his fans and detractors in the team with Ron Dennis, the McLaren head notably preferring test driver Kevin Magnussen to Button. A battle for the seat before the season began saw Dennis relent to his fellow owners but this coming season, could be Button’s last despite having a two year contract in place.

The 2009 World Champion is known for both his excellent driving skills and his work in the garage and it could prove useful to McLaren, that Button stays on in his driving capacity for another year as they work to get through the problems that have shown no signs of going away. His experience could be vital as they look to catch up in Formula 1 circles, after they have been left behind in recent season’s by the advancement of both Mercedes and Red Bull in particular, whilst Ferrrari are never too far away from the mix.