Sochi, Krasnodar Krai - McLaren finished the recent Japanese Grand Prix in turmoil, but presented a united front on Thursday after Ron Dennis and his drivers spent what may have been the equivalent of former sponsor Vodafone's annual spend in post-race telephone conversations.
As a result, Jenson Button made an explanation, of sorts, as to why he finally decided to race on for another season.
And Fernando Alonso insisted he would race for McLaren in 2016, and won't take a sabbatical while Honda fixes its engine problems.
Button said of the talks on the Monday after Suzuka: “I spent a lot speaking with Ron, the aerodynamicists and the engineers, running through everything.
“It was a really positive day. In F1 I have always given 100 per cent, every second of every day, and to do that for one more year I needed to know something positive.
“Ron told the truth, I had a contract. But things were still up in the air. I wasn't 100 percent sure of our direction, but I spent a lot of time hearing about our future. I think I talked more with Ron then than I have in the whole of the five years we've worked together.”
‘SO MANY EMOTIONS’
He declined to identify what finally sealed his decision, but added: “There were so many emotions. I don't fear retirement, and there are so many things I want to do in life, but that time is not now.”
Alonso, meanwhile, was unequivocal. Asked whether he would definitely be racing for the Woking-based team next season, the Spaniard said, “Of course” before adding, “and 2017”.
The 34-year-old angered Dennis with his outspoken radio comments during the Japanese race but said he was speaking out of frustration rather than seeking to embarrass Honda's hierarchy at its own circuit.
The Independent