McLaren confirm Jenson Button to race for team again in 2016

Button said he was confident the team would overcome its "current difficulties" to achieve great successes in the future.

"That gives me great confidence, and it is for that reason that, together, (team chief Ron Dennis) and I have decided to continue our partnership," he said.

"Okay, granted, this year has not been an easy one for us, but we know what we need to do to improve things."

Dennis added that an agreement had been reached after a series of productive talks. Prior to last weekend's Japanese Grand Prix it had been claimed that the Brit was on the verge of announcing his retirement from the sport.

"Jenson and I have been discussing his plans in private for the past few weeks, and the fact that our talks have led to today's announcement is very pleasing to both of us and will delight and motivate all at McLaren-Honda," Dennis said.

"As I have made clear whenever I have been asked about the subject, Jenson's current contract is of two years' duration [2015 and 2016]. There is a 'terminate after year one' option that McLaren could have triggered if we had wished to do so, but, once it became clear from my many conversations with Jenson that he remained as enthusiastic and as committed and as focused as ever, that option immediately became an irrelevance.

"That being the case, Jenson will race for McLaren-Honda next year, under the terms and conditions as set out in the two-year contract that both parties entered into a year ago."

Dennis acknowledged that Button's wealth of experience was a factor in the decision, as McLaren look to build a more competitive race package for 2016.

He added: "As I say, I am extremely pleased. Jenson is the most experienced driver currently racing in Formula 1, and next season he is due to become only the third driver [after Rubens Barrichello and Michael Schumacher] in Formula 1 history to pass the milestone of 300 Grands Prix.

"But, although that wealth of experience makes him a massively valuable asset to our team, hugely expert in all aspects of the 21st-century Formula 1 driver's craft, he is also supremely fit and as super-fast as ever."