Jenson Button's future remains uncertain as McLaren set their sights on Fernando Alonso and consider Lewis Hamilton

Button's contract at McLaren expires at the end of the campaign

McLaren will wait to see how the market shapes up before making an offer

Alonso is top target while Hamilton is a less favourable option



Jenson Button will go into the British Grand Prix with his future as uncertain as at any time in his distinguished 15-year career.



Button, 34, is out of contract at McLaren at the end of the season and the team are waiting to see how the driver market shakes up before deciding whether to offer the 2009 world champion a new deal.



Sportsmail understands that Fernando Alonso of Ferrari is top of McLaren’s short list, with Lewis Hamilton a maverick possibility to return to the team that nurtured his talent.

VIDEO Scroll down for Jenson Button takes part in an extraordinary car wash



Uncertain future: Jenson Button's spell at McLaren is in doubt

A source close to McLaren said the hierarchy believe Button is ‘a tenth or two’ short of the speed they want to help them escape the mediocrity of recent seasons.



Ron Dennis said after last Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix that they were ‘not looking to finalise our driver line-up now’ — hardly a ringing endorsement of Button.



Much depends on whether Alonso is ready to join McLaren at the start of their engine partnership with Honda, which begins for next season, or would rather see out the final year of his Ferrari contract before committing.

It is understood McLaren would have no reluctance in signing Alonso despite the acrimonious year they spent together in 2007.

Top target: Fernando Alonso is on McLaren's wish list

Their less favoured option is Hamilton, although he would only leave Mercedes if he loses out on the title to his team-mate Nico Rosberg.



Even if Alonso or Hamilton joined, Button could yet be preferred to McLaren’s other driver, rookie Kevin Magnussen.



Button is certainly confident the British Grand Prix on July 6 will not be his last.



Alternative: Hamilton is an option for McLaren

‘Not as far as I know,’ he said. ‘I don’t know why McLaren wouldn’t take me for next year. The delay is just the way it is for a big team. We will leave it to the last moment to make a decision.’



Button is popular with the team and sponsors, as well as being experienced and reliable.

