- McLaren
Alonso won't influence my future - Button
Jenson Button is adamant Fernando Alonso will not leave Ferrari next year and will not have any influence on his contract talks with McLaren.
Although Alonso told the media he will stay at Ferrari earlier this week, speculation about a move to McLaren is still rife. Asked if Alonso's comments impacted on his talks with McLaren, Button said: "It doesn't change my cause at all, it doesn't change anything because he was always staying at Ferrari."
However, Lotus driver Romain Grosjean said on Thursday that Alonso is still the key to the driver market and the rest of the drivers are waiting on his decision. Button is not so sure that is the case.
"Yeah, which amazes me," he said. "I know drivers say they don't read the press - we only don't read the press when you say something horrible about us - we pretend we don't read the press! That surprised me, actually. I don't really think he's the key to the driver market, the two McLaren drivers are probably the key to the driver market, I would say."
Button also clarified recent comments about retiring if McLaren does not offer him a contract next year.
"I said if I wasn't racing at the end of the season, so be it. That's what I said. If I'm not racing at the end of the season, so be it. I can't do much about that! But it's not that I'm getting ready because I definitely don't want to retire for many years, but when you're asked the question so many times you've got to say something different else it gets boring. I'm so bored of answering the same questions."
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