01 – Jenson Button

Credit: Brawn GP

Stats

• Birthday: 19th January 1980
• Nationality: British
• Lives: Monaco
• Website: jensonbutton.com

Career

Jenson’s career by year. The bracketed number is his final position at the end of the series.

• 1998 – British Formula Ford (1st), European Formula Ford (2nd), Formula Ford Festival (1st)
• 1999 – British Formula Three (3rd), Macau Grand Prix (2nd), Masters of Formula Three (5th), Korean F3 Superprix (2nd)
• 2000 – Formula 1 (8th)
• 2001 – Formula 1 (17th)
• 2002 – Formula 1 (7th)
• 2003 – Formula 1 (9th)
• 2004 – Formula 1 (3rd)
• 2005 – Formula 1 (9th)
• 2006 – Formula 1 (6th)
• 2007 – Formula 1 (15th)
• 2008 – Formula 1 (18th)
• 2009 – Formula 1 (1st)
• 2010 – Formula 1

2010 Preview

From the F1 Digest 2010 Season Preview:

On this very show last year, I said 2009 would be make or break for Button. Would it be an understatement to suggest that he made it? All the elements finally slotted into place for the long-time Honda driver, and his loyalty paid off. The brand new Brawn team took all the best bits of Honda, including their money, and turned themselves into a force to be reckoned with. Button won six of the seven first races of 2009, finished on the podium twice more, only retired once after a first lap meeting with a rookie, and won the championship. Some say that Button was lucky to have a good car under him, and struggled in the second half of the year. Both these points are very true, but make him no less of a worthy champion. When it really mattered in Brazil, there was no stopping Jenson and he spent the race overtaking like a demon and putting on quite a show.

So, what of 2010 then? During the off season, it emerged that JB had made the controversial decision to move to McLaren from Brawn who are now Mercedes. It doesn’t appear to be about money as Ross Brawn suggested they were offering him more than his McLaren deal, so what is it about? Button said he needed a new challenge, and pairing up with Lewis Hamilton in a team that has been moulded around the former champ will certainly be that. At first glance, Button has his work cut out for him this season, but maybe he knows something we don’t.