Dennis says Button's 2018 comeback chance is genuine

McLaren boss Ron Dennis has stressed that Jenson Button's new deal should not be seen as retirement, and insisted that he has a genuine chance of racing again for the team in 2018.

Jenson Button, McLaren in the FIA Press Conference

Ron Dennis, McLaren Executive Chairman with Fernando Alonso, McLaren

Jenson Button, McLaren MP4-31 with the Halo cockpit cover

Jenson Button, McLaren and Ron Dennis, McLaren Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

Button announced he will make way for Stoffel Vandoorne in the team's line-up next year, the Belgian racing alongside Fernando Alonso while the Briton takes on a development role.

Alonso, who will be the most experienced driver on the grid next year, has a contract with McLaren until the end of 2017.

Dennis insisted that Button, 36, had a real chance of coming back to racing if he wants.

"To avoid any confusion, forget the word retirement, that is not in the vocabulary, that isn't what we're saying," said Dennis.

"Jenson is one of the team's drivers for the next two years. If Jenson's needed to drive next year for any reason, he will drive.

"There's no reason why he shouldn't come back and race in 2018," said Dennis. "The only thing he was hesitant about, was hankering for a break.

"It didn't have to be a complete break, this was an innovative way to provide the team with all the advantages of having Jenson within the team, complete with the ability to drive if necessary, and give him what he wanted, which was a bit of relaxation time, to enjoy some of the things which he hasn't been able to enjoy to date."

Dennis was keen to discount the suggestion that Button's option for 2018 is a form of insurance, should Alonso leave the team at the end of next season.

"You think through everything, but this isn't the purpose of this series of contracts.

"The reality is Jenson's got a helluva lot to offer the team. And to be honest when we started to talk – we initiated this conversation in Spa – it wasn't black and white.

"There is no place in F1 for anything other than black and white, and therefore you default into, 'Well if you're not really committed...'.

"But at the end of the day the moment that the opportunity of getting a year to chill, it was, that sounds really good. This is not designed to be an insurance policy on anything.

"It was designed to be an innovative strategy for our driver line-up for next year, and that's exactly what it is. And beyond."