» Button pushes for McLaren contract renewal

By his own admission, Jenson Button would immediately sign an option on his services with McLaren if the Woking-based team elected to continue with his services for the 2012 season.

The 2009 World Champion’s two-year contract with McLaren runs out at the end of the season, with the team having just one month left to take up its 2012 option on his services.

The 31-year-old admitted that he would rather McLaren ventured down this path, instead of stalling proceedings with a protracted negotiation later this year to sign a multi-year deal.

“All Martin [Whitmarsh] has got to do is say ‘Yes’ and I will say ‘Yes’ because I want to be here next year,” he told Britain’s Daily Telegraph.

And it would seem that Whitmarsh has given every indication he would like to keep Button in the outfit, hailing his charge to third place at Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix as one that “marks out a true champion”.

However, the more cynical might be suggesting that a one-year contract extension could be more suitable for Button, were he looking to market his services with other leadings teams ahead of the 2013 season, when several leading seats are apparently up for grabs.

Button spent his Monday afternoon demonstrating a McLaren F1 car on the streets of Manchester as part of a Vodafone-sponsored event (pictured above).

[Image via McLaren]