Button's new deal for three years

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh has let slip that Jenson Button's new contract with the team is for three years, as has been widely speculated.

When the new deal was announced the terms of the contract were not made public with McLaren referring to it only as "multi-year". However, during a BBC interview, Whitmarsh said that the current new contract, which will start in 2012, will continue for another three years to 2014.

Asked if Button's recent upturn in form was down to the security of the new deal, Whitmarsh said: "I'd like to claim that, but I think he's just such a cool and focused individual that I think he's doing a great job and I think he fits well with the team and the organisation.

"Hopefully he'll continue and we'll have another three exciting years with him."