Vandoorne, 24, will partner two-time world champion Fernando Alonso on race days next season.
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Hamilton moved back ahead the following year and headed for Mercedes with comfortably the better qualifying record in his intra-team battle with Button, but having been outscored over their their years together.
“The best news of this change is that we will have Stoffel in the auto with the fresh ideas and we will push the team to the maximum, but also we still have Jenson around us, helping us and giving all his contributions”.
“To be clear, I’m very definitely not retiring …”
Button said in a statement: “I’m delighted that I’ll be staying on as a key member of the McLaren-Honda team”.
Appointing Stoffel Vandoorne as Fernando Alonso’s team-mate for next season was the simple bit.
Honda’s early versions of the system left McLaren way off the pace at tracks such as Monza in 2015, with Button saying after last year’s Italian Grand Prix he was “waiting for people to come by” on the straights because of Honda’s poor deployment.
Button’s deal also lessens the pressure on new driver Vandoorne, who is set for his first full season in F1 with the team next season, after having made his debut in the sport this year at Bahrain.
The 36-year-old driver, who won the title in 2009, will work with the McLaren team and could potentially return to the Formula One grid in 2018. “I’m contracted for both 2017 and 2018”, said Button. “I intend to work hard on auto development and I’m sure I’ll get behind the wheel of the new vehicle at some point”.
“But, before I speak on the subject of either of them, I want to talk about Jenson”.
The British driver has not officially retired, and would still be available to compete in Grands Prix if required.
“Moreover, I’m absolutely certain that the depth of his experience and the currency of his expertise will give us an advantage over our opposition next season”.
“I will also be doing stuff that l haven’t done for 17 years – spending time with my friends and, more importantly, my family”, Button said.
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“I have total confidence in the potential of the McLaren-Honda project, and I firmly believe that, racing alongside a brilliant and experienced driver, I’ll be able to make a strong contribution to the team’s future World Championship successes”, he added.
