Triple world champion Hamilton, who joined Mercedes from McLaren in 2013 and is now leading the championship with Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel, said his former team mate and fellow Monaco resident was the obvious choice. The 37-year old British driver took a break from Formula One after his lackluster 2016 season, but chose to return to replace the busy Alonso.
Button has competed in 305 grands prix - third only to Rubens Barrichello and Michael Schumacher in the all-time list - and won 15 races.
McLaren's executive director Zak Brown said on Wednesday that several options were being considered, but Boullier said Button had always been the number one choice. "Well, I wouldn't be so silly as to make any such rash prediction, but I expect him to be in the mix", Brown said.
McLaren have failed to score any points in two races this season and last won a race in 2012, leaving double champion Alonso frustrated with their lack of success.
Alonso will continue with his F1 commitments as normal after the Indy 500, so Button's return will be for this grand prix only.
Button, the 2009 world champion, is an ambassador for the British team and the leading candidate to fill Alonso's cockpit when he heads to the United States for the Indianapolis 500 on May 28.
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Formula One team McLaren-Honda announced via a statement posted on their website on Friday that Jenson Button was coming out of retirement to take Fernando Alonso's place for the Monaco Grand Prix.
Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo said the safety factor might put him off trying the Indy 500 in future, but conceded that Alonso is in an "unique situation" with his undoubted talent amid McLaren-Honda's performance crisis. I realise I'll be on a steep learning curve, but I'll be flying to Indianapolis from Barcelona immediately after the Spanish Grand Prix, practicing our McLaren-Honda-Andretti vehicle in Indianapolis from May 15th onwards, hopefully clocking up a large number of miles every day, and I know how good the Andretti Autosport guys are.
"And it'll be nice to say "hi" to all my old Formula One mates, too, and hopefully to give the fans something to cheer about".
'Jenson is a class act. After all, he's missed only a handful of races since Abu Dhabi past year, and he's as fit as a fiddle. "He has been racing all his life, and I guess anyone who would stop doing it would miss it, so I am not surprised he said yes".
Button also told Racer that he's done a lot of triathalon training in his off-time, and should be good to go after a few rounds in McLaren's simulator. It also reflects the technical versatility of McLaren and Honda.
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