Button wants McLaren to trigger 2012 contract

Jenson Button is pushing McLaren to trigger the one-year option the British team has on his services for 2012.

The Daily Telegraph said the 2009 world champion would be happy with that solution for now, with the 2012 option expiring next month, "rather than hurrying into" a new longer-term deal.

"All Martin (Whitmarsh) has got to do is say ’yes’ and I will say ’yes’ because I want to be here next year," the Briton, who on Monday was demonstrating the Woking based team’s single seater in Manchester, said.

Team boss Whitmarsh said after Sunday’s Belgian grand prix that Button’s was a performance "that marks out a true champion".

It is possible that Button, 31, is happy to stay at McLaren in 2012 whilst leaving his options open for a change of teams - maybe Ferrari - in 2013.

Putting the pressure on McLaren amid other teams’ interest next year could also mean Button can "cut down the number of PR days and sponsorship activities he must perform" beyond 2012, according to Telegraph correspondent Tom Cary.

Button edged ahead of Lewis Hamilton in the 2011 points standings at Spa-Francorchamps.

But he told the Mirror: "Neither of us will remember where we finish if we don’t win the championship."