Monza (Italy), Sep 9 (IANS): British racer Jenson Button is most likely to stay and partner two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso at McLaren for the 2016 season of Formula 1.

The Woking-based team has an option to keep Button for a further year. While they are yet to confirm Button's seat for 2016, McLaren say they will announce the decision quite soon.

"There is obviously a date for the option on Jenson and we know that we will not wait for the end of the year this time," McLaren racing director Eric Boullier told Formula1.com, confirming that Button is on a one-year contract with a possible one-year extension.

The matter is a little complicated as the British team have Kevin Magnussen, who raced for them in 2014 and only narrowly lost out to Button in the fight for a drive this year, and Stoffel Vandoorne, the runaway leader of this year's GP2 championship.

"So far we intend to keep both the drivers we have but I am not the only one to decide. For Kevin and Stoffel we will do the maximum that we can for them to race in F1," Boullier, added.

A former World Champion, Button, who has been racing for McLaren since 2010, has stacked up well against Alonso this season with a 5-6 record in qualifying. However, although several technical issues and penalties have affected both. The Briton has also scored points twice, coming home eighth in Monaco and ninth in Hungary.