Jenson Button has welcomed news he will be at McLaren next year but baulked at suggestions he will sign a contract for life.<\/p>\n
Team boss Martin Whitmarsh said at Monza on Friday that the 2009 world champion, who can be automatically retained due to a one-year contract option, will definitely still be Lewis Hamilton’s teammate in 2012.<\/p>\n
But the Briton also said he wants Button, 31, to commit for “the rest of his career” and thereafter be a brand ambassador.<\/p>\n
The fact there is still some uncertainty about Button’s position at McLaren is believed to be due to the British driver wanting to keep his options open for 2013.<\/p>\n
“I would love to stay here, yes,” Button said after Whitmarsh’s comments were reported.\u00a0 “I’m not trying to position myself with other drivers coming out of contract.<\/p>\n
“The simplest thing would be to sort out next year, then we can sort out the rest later this year,” he added.<\/p>\n
Button insists he feels little need to tie himself down with a long contract, despite suggestions in the British press that he is being offered a multi-year deal worth $120 million in total.<\/p>\n
“I don’t feel I need to secure my position for the long term.\u00a0 I’m not at the start of my career so I don’t feel I need that,” he said.<\/p>\n
“It’s nice to be in a position where, if you don’t feel right and don’t want to go racing any more, you can stop.”<\/p>\n
He scolded the suggestion he is eyeing the Red Bull seat currently occupied by Mark Webber, or Felipe Massa’s cockpit at Ferrari.<\/p>\n
“Would I retire happy without driving for Ferrari?\u00a0 Yes,” insisted Button.<\/p>\n
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