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McLaren coy on 2015 driver line-up

ESPN Staff
June 27, 2014 « Standing restarts among 2015 rule changes | Progress unlikely until 2015 - Renault »
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Racing director Eric Boullier says McLaren will not be rushed into a decision on its driver line-up for 2015.

Jenson Button and Kevin Magnussen are on deals that expire at the end of the current season, though McLaren has a clause on both allowing an extension. The issue was raised to Boullier at a McLaren phone-in with journalists following rumours linking Fernando Alonso with a return to the Woking outfit, but Boullier remained tight-lipped about Button and Magnussen's futures.

"It is a question where I cannot say yes and I cannot say no," Boullier said. "We are lucky to have two drivers who want to commit to us for the future. We have some contractual options we can pick up, so we are not in a rush to decide our future driver line-up. We are evaluating and assessing every strategy for the future."

Boullier has been vocal in his praise of Magnussen this season but says the rookie still has areas where McLaren is helping him progress.

"Even after Austria I was in his room just to have a chat with him. You know, you need to balance the freedom you give them with making sure they feel the support they need to develop as a driver. I still monitor [his progress] carefully.

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