(McLaren Mercedes)
The Porsche World Endurance Championship team have denied that they are in discussions with McLaren Mercedes Jenson Button in relation to a drive with the German manufacturer in 2015. It has been widely reported that the 2009 world champion is set to lose his drive with the Woking based outfit have reportedly decide to sign Ferrari's Fernando Alonso to partner Kevin Magnussen next season.
The Woking based outfit have insisted however that they are yet to make a final decision on who will drive for the team next season when they make this switch to a supply of Honda power units in 2015 as the Japanese manufacturer makes their Formula One return first the first time since 2008.
Speaking ahead of the United States Grand Prix, Button's manager Richard Goddard stated that they would be open to a move to the World Endurance Championship if the right offer was made which lead to speculation that the 2009 world champion was in talks with Porsche.
However the German company have denied these reports with vice president of Porsche's LMP-1 project Fritz Enzinger stated that there had been no approach by either Porsche or Button stating that the team will field an unchanged line-up in 2015 of Mark Webber, Brendon Hartley, Timo Bernhard, Neel Jani, Romain Dumas and Marc Lieb. Enzinger told Autosport:
'I know Jenson from my time at BMW [Button began his F1 career in a BMW-engined Williams in 2000] and he is a good guy, but at the moment there is no contact,'
McLaren have already confirmed that they will not make announcement on their driver line up for 2015 until the season ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix which takes place from November 21-23.
Button is currently in seventh place in the championship on 94 points, 41 ahead of McLaren team mate Kevin Magnussen who is currently in 10th place.
© Ben Johnston 2014
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