Jenson Button has admitted that he came close to leaving Formula 1 in order to join the new lineup on the BBC motoring programme Top Gear in 2016.

Amid rumours that the 2009 world champion was considering his future at McLaren-Honda last year, the Daily Mail claimed that Button, 36, was simultaneously "in talks with the BBC".

Button appeared this week on the BBC Radio 2 programme hosted by Chris Evans, who is Top Gear's new main presenter.

He asked the driver: "When will we know this season as opposed to last season if you're definitely able to host Top Gear next year?"

Button laughed: "I knew that was coming."

Evans continued: "We were close though, weren't we? We were so close, then McLaren said 'No, we want him for another year'."

Former Friends star Matt LeBlanc will join Evans on the new presenting lineup.