McLaren confirms Button to race on in 2016

LONDON — Jenson Button will race for McLaren again next season, the Formula One team confirmed Thursday with a statement that ended speculation the 2009 world champion was heading for retirement. Button said he was confident the Honda-powered team would overcome its “current difficulties” to achieve great successes in the future. “That gives me great confidence, and it is for that reason that, together, (team chief Ron Dennis) and I have decided to continue our partnership,” he said after the team confirmed he would see out a contract that expires at the end of 2016. “Okay, granted, this year has not been an easy one for us, but we know what we need to do to improve things,” said the 35-year-old. The second most successful team in Formula One, after Ferrari, is ninth out of 10 teams in its worst season. Button, the last McLaren to driver to win a race back in 2012, has scored just six points in 14 races this year and suffered repeated penalties and retirements. Speculation that the most experienced driver on the starting grid, who won his title with Brawn GP, was planning to call it a day has swirled around for months. Although Dennis assured reporters at last weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix that Button would be staying alongside double world champion Fernando Alonso, there were still doubters with the driver also seemingly unsure. Button’s continuation means he will join Michael Schumacher and Brazilian Rubens Barrichello as the only drivers to start 300 Grands Prix. Alguersuari, 25, quits Jaime Alguersuari, who was once the youngest Formula One driver, announced his retirement from motor racing at the age of 25 Thursday to follow a career in music. “I decided to stop because it’s time for change,” he told a news conference. “Something inside me says it’s the moment to take a different path because I think I have fallen out of love with this girlfriend who has been with me all these years.” Alguersuari made his F1 debut with Toro Rosso in 2009 at the age of 19 years and 125 days. The record stood until this season when Dutch 17-year-old Max Verstappen made his first appearance for the same team. The Spaniard left Formula One at the end of the 2011 season and most recently competed in the Formula E electric series. Next season to start early Next year’s season-opening Australian Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne will move forward to March 20 after previously being listed for a later than usual start on April 3, organizers said Wednesday. “The change of the date is part of a number of changes on a provisional calendar issued by the World Motor Sport Council,” they said in a statement on the official race website (www.grandprix.com.au). The April 3 date would have been the latest start to a championship since 1988.