McLaren Formula 1 team to decide Jenson Button's future in meeting
Jenson Button's Formula 1 future will be decided later on Thursday, with a McLaren board meeting set to rubberstamp the team's 2015 driver line-up
The 2009 F1 world champion has been waiting on information from McLaren about who it plans to slot in alongside Fernando Alonso next year.
If McLaren decides against keeping Button, and elects to commit to Kevin Magnussen, then it will mark the end of the Briton's F1 career after a 15-year spell in grand prix racing.
Button made clear at the season-closing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that he is not ready to turn his back on F1 yet - as he feels he is still performing well - but equally is not willing to take an uncompetitive seat to remain in the sport.
"I'm not ready to stop racing, no," he said. "I'm here to race, do the best job I can which is what I try and do every weekend.
"Sometimes it doesn't work out but most of the time it does.
"All you've got to do is drive the car as fast as you can and carry yourself as well as you can.
"That's all you can do and the rest isn't in your hands.
"I feel I have a lot to give."
McLaren has been torn over which driver to run alongside Alonso - with Group CEO Ron Dennis believed to favour Magnussen, while other factions in the team prefer Button.
Despite intense discussions about the matter over recent weeks, McLaren has been unable to make a decision - and it stalled on making a firm choice ahead of the season finale.
That is why it has elected to sort out the matter in Thursday's board meeting, when all the team's main shareholders will be involved in the decision.
Although a final call will be made, it is unclear whether McLaren will make a public statement about its driver plans immediately or will wait a few days.
Alonso has already agreed to join McLaren, after splitting with Ferrari this season, amid the promise of the Woking-based team's switch to Honda engines from next year.
THE ARGUMENTS FOR BUTTON
* Vast experience in Formula 1 will help fast-track Honda's progress
* Outqualified and outscored Kevin Magnussen in 2014
* Trusted by Fernando Alonso to help bring on McLaren development
* Profile good for McLaren marketing and attracting sponsors
* Looming end of career means door open to slot McLaren youngster Stoffel Vandoorne in for 2016 or '17
REASONS TO KEEP MAGNUSSEN
* Showed good speed in 2014 as a rookie - and will only get better
* Offers long term security for McLaren as only at start of career
* Will push Alonso hard as not willing to accept second best
* Driver line-up of youth and experience is always a benefit for teams
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