---
title: "McLaren confirm Alonso and Button"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2014/12/11/mclaren-confirm-alonso-and-button/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Chris Barrass"
section: "F1 News"
published: "2014-12-11T18:55:59Z"
modified: "2014-12-11T18:55:59Z"
---

# McLaren confirm Alonso and Button

[![_L4R8957](https://www.f1update.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/L4R89571.jpg)](https://www.f1update.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/L4R89571.jpg)[![_L4R8843](https://www.formulaupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/L4R8843-300x202.jpg)](https://www.formulaupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/L4R8843.jpg)McLaren have finally announced who their 2015 drivers will be, with the well known arrival of Fernando Alonso finally being confirmed and the team deciding that Jenson Button will remain in the sport after all. Last season’s driver Kevin Magnussen will drop to a third driver role, with the idea that he will replace whoever leaves first.

In a press statement, McLaren said that the delay was caused due to the negotiations with Button. Ron Dennis also revealed in an interview at the MTC that the possibility of running third cars was another issue in the delay. McLaren will now have the oldest combined age on the grid, with the 34 year old Button and 33 year old Alonso having a combined age of 67 – 30 years more than that of the Toro Rosso drivers!

Spaniard Alonso drove for McLaren in 2007 and left the team after a single season in bitter circumstances. The Spygate scandal and challenge from a rookie Lewis Hamilton led to tensions between himself and team boss Ron Dennis culminating in a return to Renault for the Spaniard.

Fernando wrote in a press release from the team “McLaren-H0nda’s repeated and open desire, perseverance and determination in making it possible for me to join their exciting renewed partnership, have been some of the main factors that made me take this decision”, whilst Button – who is entering his 16th F1 season and 6th for McLaren, added “I am absolutely raring to go.”

McLaren will switch to Honda engines for the 2015 season, rekindling the legendary partnership that won 4 consecutive drivers’ and constructors’ titles between 1988 and 1991, all of which were between Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna. The original deal ended at the end of the 1992 season, but following the move to V6 hybrid engines, the Japanese car manufacturer has decided to return – ending a 20 year partnership with Mercedes.

The announcement means that, depending on Caterham’s administration crisis, all teams have announced their drivers for the 2015 season.

**Mercedes AMG Petronas: #44 Lewis Hamilton, #6 Nico Rosberg\
Infiniti Red Bull Racing: #3 Daniel Ricciardo, #26 Daniil Kvyatt\
Williams Martini Mercedes: #77 Valtteri Bottas, #19 Felipe Massa\
Scuderia Ferrari: #5 Sebastian Vettel, #7 Kimi Raikkonen\
McLaren Honda: #14 Fernando Alonso, #22 Jenson Button\
Sahara Force India Mercedes: #27 Nico Hulkenberg, #11 Sergio Perez\
Scuderia Toro Rosso Renault: #33 Max Verstappen, #55 Carlos Sainz Jr.\
Lotus Mercedes: #8 Romain Grosjean, #13 Pastor Maldonado\
Sauber Ferrari: #9 Marcus Ericsson, Felipe Nasr\**

*Images courtesy of McLaren Honda F1 Team*