McLaren driver Jenson Button has announced that he will not race in Formula 1 next season.
The 36-year-old, who has one championship title to his name following his victory with Brawn GP in 2009, will step aside from the track to take on a new ambassadorial role at McLaren.
Young prospect Stoffel Vandoorne will take Button's seat for the 2017 campaign, while two-time world champion Fernando Alonso will remain in the lineup.
Button, who has won 15 races in his F1 career, is contracted to McLaren until 2018, meaning that he could return to the track in two years' time.
"I'm delighted that I'll be staying on as a key member of the McLaren-Honda team," said Button. "In fact I'm massively excited about my new role, which has come about as a result of a number of in-depth chats with Ron [Dennis]. Specifically, I'm looking forward to becoming even more deeply involved in the team's efforts to bring about the success we've all been striving to deliver.
"I love McLaren-Honda. I firmly believe it's made up of the best bunch of people I've ever worked with, and I have no intention of ever driving for another Formula 1 team.
"To be clear, I'm very definitely not retiring. I'm contracted for both 2017 and 2018, I intend to work hard on car-development, and I'm sure I'll get behind the wheel of the new car at some point."
McLaren's executive chairman Ron Dennis added: "As a race driver for our team these past seven seasons, he's been superb, both on and off the track. And, as we're seeing this season, he remains superb - not only fast and fit but also experienced and expert. He'll start his 298th Grand Prix tomorrow; as such, he's the most experienced driver on the grid.
"Having extended his contract to include 2017 and 2018, he'll continue to be a senior, influential and committed member of the team, and will remain centrally involved in the development of our cars. He'll also be available to race for us if circumstances require it.
"On behalf of all at McLaren-Honda, I want to say how thrilled we are that Jenson has extended his contractual relationship with us. Moreover, I'm absolutely certain that the depth of his experience and the currency of his expertise will give us an advantage over our opposition next season."
In his career, Button has claimed pole eight times, reached the podium on 50 occasions and accumulated 1,231 points so far.
Danielle Joynson
