McLaren racing director Eric Boullier has said that the team is looking for a “fresh” driver line-up for the 2015 season. McLaren currently have 2009 World Champion Jenson Button and rookie, Kevin Magnussen driving for them.
Although Magnussen is only in his first year with the team, Button has been with the team since 2010. Dane, Magnussen got his first Formula 1 podium on his debut race in Australia finishing second, and after Daniel Ricciardo’s disqualification, Button was promoted to third. This has been McLaren’s best finish since the 2012 Brazilian GP, but don’t show any signs for improving on it any time soon.
McLaren are also returning to Honda power for the 2015 season.
Many rumours have surrounded who will be driving for McLaren with rumours of the team re-signing former drivers Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton. Four time World Champion Sebastian Vettel has also been rumoured with a possible drive with the team in the future.
Magnussen feels though, that his seat with the team is safe.
“I can only do my best and hope that is good enough,” said Magnussen.
“Anyone at McLaren should feel that you have to deliver to your best to deserve to be there and that goes for me and Jenson as well.”
Many believe it to be, that if McLaren are looking to axe a driver at the end of this season, it would be Button who is out of a contract.
Chairman and CEO of the McLaren Group Ron Dennis has urged Jenson Button to improve his performance, perhaps hinting that he will be replaced if he does not.
“Jenson knows the important thing is to score as many points as he can,” Boullier is quoted by the Mirror newspaper.
“He doesn’t have to prove anything as he is a world champion and has won many races for McLaren.
“We need to be realistic as well, because in one, two, three years we may need to refresh our driver lineup and obviously we will be seeking the best drivers at that moment in time,” he added.
Despite all the speculation surrounding his drive for next season, Jenson Button believes that he will be able to stay on the grid for 2015. He debuted back in 2000.
“Right now, my interest is to race in F1,” he said.
“In F1 the emotions are all over the place – it is highs, it is lows. I have lived my life like that for a long time and I want to continue my life like that.
“I am young and fast and enjoy what I do for a living, and I don’t want that to change,” added Button.
