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McLaren has confirmed it would not stand in the way of its Formula 1 reserve Kevin Magnussen should the Dane receive a racing offer from elsewhere for 2016.

After a rookie season that included a podium on his F1 race debut in last year's Australian Grand Prix, Magnussen was demoted to reserve status for 2015 following the return of Fernando Alonso.

Magnussen has since made clear he wants his seat back at McLaren, although racing director Eric Boullier has stated the team "intends" to keep Jenson Button for 2016 given the option on the '09 world champion's contract.

Boullier made clear McLaren will not hold Magnussen back should he wish to pursue other avenues.

"If we can offer him something here, a drive - and I'm not the only one to decide - yes, he obviously takes priority," said Boullier.

"He is a McLaren driver, and he is always claiming he would like to race again for McLaren.

"But if we cannot then personally I would never stop him from racing somewhere else, of course."

With few seats available at other teams, and with the clock ticking, Magnussen's options are few and far between, although he has been linked with a drive for newcomer Haas.

He also had the possibility of a Honda-powered IndyCar drive at the start of the year, though that was prevented by the need to step in for the concussed Alonso in the season-opening F1 race in Australia.

A technical problem meant Magnussen failed to even start in Melbourne and he has spent the remainder of the season on the sidelines, with Oliver Turvey and Stoffel Vandoorne sharing duties with the race drivers in the in-season F1 tests.

Magnussen said during the summer there was "no way in hell" he would accept not having a race seat of some form in 2016.