Button admits F1 retirement possible after 2014

Jenson Button has admitted for the first time that he might be forced to "retire" at the end of 2014.

As McLaren and Honda look ahead to their new works partnership beginning next year, it is clear the Woking based team is hoping to sign a truly top driver.

Disgruntled Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel have been linked with the seat, but so too has Ferrari’s frustrated Fernando Alonso.

The Telegraph claimed the Spaniard could make an enormous $32 million per year with McLaren, Honda and also his sponsor Santander pitching in.

Williams’ Valtteri Bottas and the Eric Boullier-linked Romain Grosjean are also believed to have been considered by McLaren, so while the situation remains unclear, the future of 15-year F1 veteran Button hangs in the balance.

"We haven’t sat down and talked about it," the 34-year-old Briton and 2009 world champion told the BBC.

"If I have to retire at the end of the season then so be it, but I feel I have so much more to give and I can’t imagine life without motor sport and especially formula one," Button said.