Button "almost there" in deciding future

Jenson Button says he is 'almost there' in deciding if he wants to remain in Formula 1 next year, as McLaren edges closer a decision on its driver line-up.

Jenson Button, McLaren on the drivers parade

The former world champion could find himself needing to look elsewhere for a seat if McLaren opts to take rising youngster Stoffel Vandoorne alongside Fernando Alonso for 2017.

And although Button has been most strongly linked with a switch to Williams, where he started his career back in 2000, no deal has yet been put in place.

However, speaking after reflecting on his future over the summer break, Button said at Spa-Francorchamps on Thursday that he was pretty clear in his own mind about what he wanted to do next year.

"I did think about it a lot," he said. "I didn't have a lot of time to lay on a sun lounger and think about it because I was busy, but of course I thought about it.

"I am almost there...I am almost there with my thought process. You will hear about it soon but I cannot put a time scale on it."

Winning car

Button is clear on one thing, and that he will only stay in F1 if he believes he can get his hands on a car that is capable of being right at the front.

"I always said that if I feel I can be in a car that is fighting for wins, definitely I will stay," he said. I "think any racing driver would.

"If I am not, and I feel I am not, there is nothing else I want to achieve. I will go and play darts or something else instead."

Although teammate Alonso has expressed reservations about whether or not next year's cars will bring the excitement back, Button says that 2017's faster cars are something he is looking forward to.

"Fernando didn't sound very positive but I don't know," he said. "It obviously goes through your thought process on whether I want to stay or not, and that is definitely on the positive side."

Keep racing

If Button decides that he does not want to stay in F1, then he has made it clear that he will continue racing somewhere.

"The problem is I cannot sit still," he said. "I cannot just sit on a beach. I have already planned doing triathlons whether I am racing in F1 or not.

"I will do all sorts of racing after F1, whether it is race cars or push bikes – I am a competitive person and I always want to win and that is something I want to do. I want something I can fight for wins in."