Monaco 84, Monaco again in 92 and Brazil in 08 are three of the most dramatic and brilliant Formula One races in the last 30 years but does anything get better than Canada in 2011?

Watching Jenson Button try to get round Monaco two weeks ago you could easily forget he's a former world champion and the winner of one of the greatest races in recent F1 history.

Button was out of semi-retirement at the most iconic of all races for McLaren last time out with Fernando Alonso racing in America at the Indy 500 and nothing went right for him.

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Button was back just for one race. Image: PA



A good performance in qualifying was destroyed by a 15 place grid penalty due to engine changes and then further alterations to the set-up in Parc Ferme forced him to start from the pit.

Things didn't get better in the race with his battle with the former Brawn driver's battle with Pascal Wehrlein that finished with the Sauber driver in the wall and Button out of the race.

It hasn't always been so bad for Button and McLaren of course and back in 2011 the Englishman won what is arguably the best drive in his career in Montreal.

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The Brit seemed to be enjoying himself until penalties put him at the back of the grid. Image: PA



McLaren might be a long way even from the podium these days, although things looked a lot rosier at the recent Monaco Grand Prix, but back in 2011 they had two men not long removed from World Championship glory, a car that would finish second in the constructors title and drivers who would finish second and fifth in the drivers' championship.

The race started under the safety car because of a drenched track but it soon started to dry and the cars were released, that only led to a collision between Mark Webber and Lewis Hamilton who rejoined the race behind his teammate.

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Hamilton vs Button. Image: PA



The younger man was looking for a way past his more experienced teammate and when Button made a mistake he looked to take a chance to overtake him however Button didn't see Hamilton properly and closed the gap leaving the other McLaren pincered between car and barrier. Hamilton tried to carry on unharmed but the drive shaft was damaged and he was out of the race.

Button switched to intermediate tyres first and made up time on those around him but on lap 20 the safety car was back out for the third time and five laps the pouring rain forced the race to be suspended by over two hours.

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The amount of water that fell was incredible. Image: PA



When the race restarted they again were behind the safety car for the opening five laps as it completed its 15th lap leading the race. The cars dove into the pits to change back to intermediate's with the track drying so quickly but merely four laps later the car with the lights on top was back out as Button was again at the centre of the action colliding with Fernando Alonso and forcing the Spaniard to retire.

The 2009 World champion was at his brilliant best getting the most out of the differing tyres and moving to slicks at the right time and putting himself into fourth when that damned none F1 car was back on the tracks with 12 laps to go.

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Plenty of cars were in the wars not least Button. Image: PA



Having been last after the Alonso crash and following a fifth pit stop and a drive through penalty for going through the pit lane too fast, the Englishman was in sight of the podium but still behind Sebastian Vettel, Webber and Michael Schumacher.

A mistake by Webber put Button in third and then he passed the legendary German a lap later to leave him three seconds behind Vettel and with only five laps to go. The 2009 champion closed the gap to the 2010 champ by half a second by the last lap and then, under immense pressure, the Red Bull driver made a mistake.

A turn six part of his wheel went onto the wet part of the track and with no traction on the slick tyres he span and Button went past. It was an incredible victory from accidentally taking out his teammate, being dead last, surviving two crashes, five pit stops, a drive through penalty, five safety cars and a two hour suspension to the match.