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Why McLaren agonised over Button

On paper, retaining the man who was comfortably its top scorer in 2014 looked like a no-brainer for McLaren, so why did Jenson Button have to wait so long? BEN ANDERSON analyses the decision

The long wait is finally over. As the dead of winter approached, the eyes of Formula 1 fans around the world were glued on McLaren, the only team still to announce its driver line-up for 2015, as bigwigs in Woking wrestled with the dilemma of who should partner prodigal son Fernando Alonso - Jenson Button or Kevin Magnussen?

After repeated delays, that debate was finally resolved this week as McLaren opted to offer Button a two-year deal to remain in Woking as a race driver, while relegating Magnussen to "reserve, test and third driver" status.

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