Top Gear switch for Button was on the cards

Jenson Button has admitted he came close to leaving Formula 1 in order to join the new lineup on the BBC motoring programme Top Gear in 2016.

Amid rumours the 2009 world champion was considering his future at McLaren-Honda last year, the Daily Mail newspaper claimed Button, 36, was simultaneously "in talks with the BBC".

Button appeared this week on the BBC Radio 2 programme hosted by Chris Evans, who is Top Gear's new main presenter.

He asked the driver: "When will we know this season as opposed to last season if you're definitely able to host Top Gear next year?"

Button laughed: "I knew that was coming."

Evans continued: "We were close though, weren't we? We were so close, then McLaren said: No, we want him for another year."