2017 Mclaren 570 on 2040-cars

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Jenson Button staying in F1 with McLaren

At 35 years old, Jenson Button is hardly what you'd call an old man, but for a Formula One driver, he's ancient. So we weren't surprised when we heard reports that he was heading for retirement. It just turns out they weren't true. According to a statement released by McLaren, Button will be staying on for at least another year. The news follows a recent announcement by McLaren chief Ron Dennis, who noted that Button is still under contract, and that the team has no intention of dismissing him or letting him go early. Citing both Button's wealth of experience and his current capabilities, the announcement confirms that McLaren will not trigger the escape clause in his contract that would have allowed him to terminate it after this season. So he may not be leaving soon, but the still-new McLaren-Honda partnership will need to perform better if it's going to keep aging former champs like Button and teammate Fernando Alonso interested in continuing with the team. Plagued by teething problems, the McLaren has yet to score a single podium finish this season. It has also failed to get at least one of its cars to the finish line at nine out of the 13 races, leaving it in ninth place in the constructors' standings. That's the worst the team has performed since 1980 when it was still under Ford-Cosworth DFV power. McLaren-Honda confirms Jenson Button for 2016 01 Oct McLaren-Honda is happy to confirm that Jenson Button will race for the team in 2016. Ron Dennis (Chairman & Chief Executive Officer) said: "Jenson and I have been discussing his plans in private for the past few weeks, and the fact that our talks have led to today's announcement is very pleasing to both of us and will delight and motivate all at McLaren-Honda. "As I have made clear whenever I have been asked about the subject, Jenson's current contract is of two years' duration [2015 and 2016]. There is a 'terminate after year one' option that McLaren could have triggered if we had wished to do so, but, once it became clear from my many conversations with Jenson that he remained as enthusiastic and as committed and as focused as ever, that option immediately became an irrelevance. That being the case, Jenson will race for McLaren-Honda next year, under the terms and conditions as set out in the two-year contract that both parties entered into a year ago. "As I say, I am extremely pleased.

McLaren Special Ops to showcase custom 570S at Pebble Beach

McLaren will be returning to Pebble Beach this summer to showcase the customization options it offers through its Special Operations division. Though it will exhibit an array of models from its range of supercars, the focus this year will be on the 570S that kicks off the company's new entry-level Sports Series. And it'll be highlighted by the example you see here. This particular 570S coupe has been decked out by MSO in a special Mauvine Blue paint with coordinating interior treatment in black leather. It'll be joined by a second 570S in Ventura Orange with options selected from the MSO Defined catalog. The pair of Sports Series models will give prospective buyers – of which we don't doubt there'll be more than a few in Monterey this month – a couple of ideas as to how they might specify their own. Rounding out Woking's presence at the concours will be a pair of limited-edition models from the next-step-up Super Series. There'll be a 650S Le Mans edition in Sarthe Grey and a 675LT, but neither will be available for sale as McLaren has already sold out the entire production runs of both, limited to 50 and 500 examples, respectively. To highlight its heritage, the company will also be showcasing a 1996 McLaren F1 GTR – specifically #17R in star-spangled FINA livery – on loan from BMW North America. Collectors looking to take something tasty home with them will also want to check out the concurrent RM Sotheby's sale, where a Volcano Red P1 will be offered alongside a '98 F1 with LM upgrades. Related Video: McLAREN SPECIAL OPERATIONS RETURNS TO PEBBLE BEACH WITH ONE-OFF 570S Four years on from its global launch, McLaren Special Operations (MSO) will return to the manicured lawns of the USA's famous Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance later this month with a selection of distinctive and beautiful commissions. The bespoke division of McLaren will showcase some of the individualisation options it will make available on the forthcoming new 570S Coupe, the first model to join the McLaren Sports Series. Two examples have been created. The first 570S Coupe 'by MSO' features the uniquely formulated Mauvine Blue paint finish coupled with a bespoke interior finished in Carbon Black leather with co-ordinating detailing, carried through from the exterior colour. A second 570S Coupe, finished in Ventura Orange and fitted with a selection of styling details from the MSO Defined range of options, will take up position on the popular Concept Lawn at the event.

McLaren 650S Sprint is ready to hit the track running in Monterey

McLaren isn't exactly the most plebeian brand to begin with, so it makes sense for the company to take advantage of the lavish parties and wealthy folks descending on California for the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. In addition to the insane P1 GTR, McLaren is showing off the track-focused 650S Sprint here in Monterey. This new 650S it takes the place of the 12C Sprint in the brand's lineup, and should be the fastest 650S short of the GT3 racer. The thing is, the Sprint isn't technically a homologated racer, but it makes a great toy to show off at track days. For the Sprint, the 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 stays put, but McLaren optimizes the 650S' body for more downforce and better engine cooling. It also packs all sorts of track goodies like a competition fuel tank, larger radiator, racing-tuned suspension and 19-inch center-lock wheels. It also has all of the safety necessities for a day of doing laps like a roll cage, fire suppression and racing buckets. Of course, you might have known about all of that already, since the British brand revealed the Sprint just a few days ago, but you can check it live our gallery from Monterey.