Jenson Button is preparing to announce his decision to end his sixteen-year Formula 1 career, according to multiple reports in the UK media that have emerged at the start of this week.
With McLaren's contract option on the British driver for 2016 set to expire at the end of September, and the parties rumoured to have been bickering over a scheduled pay increase, 35-year-old Button is said to have decided to take the decision into his own hands.
He has resolved to "bow out on his terms after another season in an uncompetitive car", said Daniel Johnson, correspondent for the Telegraph.
The reports said Button, the 2009 world champion has selected this weekend's Japanese grand prix as the scene of his announcement due to his affinity for the country.
Writing in the Times, Kevin Eason said McLaren supremo Ron Dennis wanted Button to stay beyond 2016 but has "accepted his driver's decision".
It is almost certain that Button will be replaced by either McLaren reserve Kevin Magnussen, or fellow team junior Stoffel Vandoorne, who is dominating the GP2 championship.
Button, a 15-time grand prix winner, has been linked with a move to Le Mans endurance racing as well as television broadcasting, such as F1 commentary or presenting on the BBC programme Top Gear.
He made his Formula 1 debut at the 2000 Australian Grand Prix with Williams-BMW and has gone on to start 278 races, and also drove for Benetton, Renault, BAR, Honda, Brawn GP and now McLaren.
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