LONDON, England - Jenson Button has admitted for the first time that he might be forced to "retire" at the end of the 2014 racing season.
As McLaren and Honda look ahead to a new works partnership in 2015 it has become clear that the UK-based team is hoping to sign a truly top driver.
Disgruntled Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel have been linked with the seat; so has Ferrari's frustrated Fernando Alonso.
'MORE TO GIVE'
Britain's The Telegraph newspaper claimed the Spaniard could make an enormous equivalent of R340-million with McLaren, Honda and his sponsor Santander pitching in.
Williams' Valtteri Bottas and the Eric Boullier-linked Romain Grosjean are also believed to have been considered by McLaren so, while the situation remains unclear, the future of 15-year F1 veteran Button is in the balance.
"We haven't sat down and talked about it," the 34-year-old Briton and 2009 F1 champion told the BBC. "If I have to retire at the end of the season then so be it but I feel I have so much more to give.
"I can't imagine life without motorsport - especially F1."