Jenson Button is set to sign a new multi-year deal with McLaren on improved terms, according to reports on Monday.
Several news outlets have reported that Button is on the verge of extending his contract beyond 2012, after an unnamed source told the News of the World at the weekend that rival team Ferrari is interested in the 2009 world champion. McLaren has an option in its current contract with Button to extend his deal for 2012, which Button would most likely have to buy his way out of if he wanted to leave the team, but Autosport and BBC Sport are reporting that a longer deal is more likely.
The stories suggest McLaren would increase Button's £6 million-a-year salary in exchange for a longer deal. They added that an announcement would be made in the next few weeks.
The only question, however, is how long Button wants to be tied to one team. Just last week he told Swiss newspaper Blick that he enjoyed having options open to him, which a long-term contract would likely rule out.
"For me it makes no sense to sign a long-term contract," he said. "I don't know how I'm going to feel in a few years. I can't imagine racing at 40. I just want to race for as long as I can win. McLaren has an option on me for next year, that's all I know. Many of my colleagues don't hesitate to secure for the long term, but I like it when my future is open."
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