Jenson Button is set to replace Fernando Alonso at this year’s Monaco Grand Prix after agreeing to return for McLaren.
The 2009 world champion officially took a year off racing in F1 at the end of last season but is contracted to race should either Alonso or McLaren team-mate Stoffel Vandoorne be unavailable. Alonso will compete in the Indy 500 this year, ruling him out of the Monaco Grand Prix, but during Wednesday's announcement Zak Brown said the Spaniard's replacement had yet to be finalized.
RACER understands Button has now agreed to return in Monaco following talks with the team, with an announcement due before the opening practice session in Bahrain on Friday.
Button's former teammate Lewis Hamilton said on Thursday he hoped the 37-year-old would accept the opportunity to race again.
"I hope that Jenson comes back, it would be great for the sport to have Jenson back here," Hamilton said.
"Because I like Jenson and I think he's still one of the best drivers and his calibre is still higher than any other driver who is able to take that spot, for sure. His calibre and experience."
Button won in Monaco on his way to the 2009 world title with Brawn, but he has yet to test McLaren's 2017 car. It is not yet clear if he will travel to Bahrain to take part in next week's in-season test, which takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday.