Whitmarsh wants Button to commit career to McLaren

McLaren wants Jenson Button to sign a multi-year deal © Getty Images

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Martin Whitmarsh wants Jenson Button to devote the rest of his career to McLaren and said there is no doubt about his position at the team in 2012.

As things stand, Button will be out of contract in 2012 although he is keen to activate a clause in his current agreement that would allow him to extend his stay by one year. However, McLaren is eager to tie Button down for longer and Whitmarsh revealed that the team has plans for him after he has stopped racing in F1.

"Jenson will be here next year," he told the Daily Telegraph. "We know that, he knows that. There's nothing complicated about it. But we're looking to do a deal that will see him race for McLaren for the rest of his career.

"That may be for the next three years or the next five years. Who knows? Jenson is a mature and very intelligent guy. And he is still as fit as a flea and still hungry to race. He could take on an ambassador's role for McLaren. We're looking into GT racing and Le Mans and there's no reason why he can't use his experience in those projects."

Button's management is reportedly keen for McLaren to take up the one-year option for 2012 to leave him as a free agent at the end of next year.

Button recently said: "Well, if he [Whitmarsh] takes up the option... All he has to do is say yes, and I will say yes because I want to be here next year. It's up to the team as to when they approach me, but for me I'm the happiest I've been with the car."

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