Jenson Button: I'm not scared of retiring... there is bright future ahead for McLaren

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Jenson Button has revealed why he did not retire as expected
Former world champion says McLaren will make 'big strides' in winter
35-year-old Brit has endured miserable season with his team

Published: 02:39 EST, 9 October 2015 | Updated: 02:39 EST, 9 October 2015

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Jenson Button says he has never been 'scared' of retirement and is confident McLaren will make him a force in Formula One once again next season.

The 35-year-old looked set to walk away from the sport before his U-turn was confirmed last week.

After a hugely disappointing campaign with a struggling team, nobody would have begrudged Button if he wanted to call it quits.

Jenson Button (left) celebrates McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso's 250th Grand Prix in Sochi

Alonso smiles sheepishly as the McLaren team all cheer him ahead of his milestone race

Button shakes hands with the two-time world champion at the Sochi Autodrom in Russia

The McLaren garage found something to celebrate despite their awful year on the track

However, the 2009 world champion insists he is now fully committed for next year, and he could even take his career into an 18th season in 2017.

'I don't fear retiring at all,' the Brit said ahead of the Russian Grand Prix. 'There are so many things I want to do after Formula One, but that time is not now.'

'I've always given 100 per cent in my career. Every second of every day has been about Formula One. It's been about racing, it's been about getting the maximum out of me, the car, and the team.

'To go through all that for another year I needed to know that there was something positive on the horizon. I wasn't sure of our direction. But we will definitely make big strides this winter.'

Button's miserable season has not put him off racing again for another year at least

McLaren are ahead of only Manor in the constructors' championship after scoring a paltry 17 points this season, with engine supplier Honda enduring a tortuous return to the grid.

But with the whole winter to work on the car and make upgrades, Button hasn't even ruled out winning a race in 2016.

He added: 'It would be a big step forward. The truth is, none of us know yet. We could make massive gains next season and win the next race – but I would say that's very unlikely.'

Button and team-mate Fernando Alonso also had a rare cause for celebration this season as they toasted the Spaniard reaching his 250th grand prix in Sochi this week.

The 34-year-old two-time world champion lined up alongside Button and the entire McLaren team for a series of photos to mark the landmark.

Even Alonso, a great champion and fierce competitor, was able to crack a smile amid the misery of McLaren's season as his team cheered his achievement.