Joins Williams as a rookie Won his drive with Williams for 2000 after a testing shoot-out in Barcelona with Bruno Junqueira. He was set to score a point on debut in Australia but his engine blew 11 laps from the finish.

Moves to Benetton Moved to Benetton for 2001 and 2002; the worst seasons of his career. Flávio Briatore, his team boss, called him a "lazy playboy". Button has since admitted the fame and riches went to his head.

Moves to BAR Button lost the drive at Renault, moving to BAR in 2003. He performed well against world champion Jacques Villeneuve before scoring his first podium in Malaysia the following year.

Makes his mark in title race His first pole position also came in 2004, at Imola. He ended the season third in the championship, best of the rest behind the dominant Ferraris.

First race win The Englishman had to wait until his 113th Grand Prix for his first victory in Hungary in 2006. It was a memorable drive in the wet from 14th on the grid.

Honda struggles Two uncompetitive seasons followed with Honda struggling to make their financial muscle count on track. Honda pulled out of F1 at the end of 2008, leaving his career on the brink.

World champion with Brawn Ross Brawn bought the team, and with a Mercedes engine in the back, Brawn and Button dominated the early part of 2009. He won six of the first seven races to set up his memorable World Championship triumph.

Moves to McLaren Button stunned Formula One again by moving to McLaren for 2010 in an all-British pairing with Lewis Hamilton. He won in his second race with McLaren in Australia, with a typical Button drive, mastering thechangeable conditions.

Eclipses Hamilton For most of 2010 he was an outside bet for the title, but in 2011, while Hamilton struggled, he came into his own. Victory in Japan was his best, propelling him to second in the championship.

Mixed fortunes 2012 was a mixed bag, bookended by victories in Australia and Brazil. His one and only pole position with McLaren came in Belgium. Much to his credit, he outscored Hamilton over their three seasons together.

Saved from the axe After a poor 2013, his fortunes failed to improve in 2014. His reprieve at the end of that year came as a shock, despite the fact he comfortably outperformed his team-mate Kevin Magnussen.