Jenson Button’s career in Formula 1

The first time I was aware of Jenson was when I had started Karting in 1996. He was a regular in the karting magazine which was the thing to be featured in at at the time if you were a karter. We were the same age but by then he was already racing Karts in Europe and racing well, beating some of the big stars of the time. In 1997 he became Formula Super A European Champion, which was a huge achievement. In 1998 he was set for cars and as expected romped his way to the Formula Ford championship, which back then was still the place to go after Karts. At this point, I knew one day we would be talking about Jenson Button’s career in Formula 1.

Formula 3

Into 1999 and the Autosport show was the first time I saw him. Like I said, even though we are the same age, it struck me how shy and nervous he seemed as he was being paraded around by Renault and his new British F3 team Promatecme. He was there in his yellow race suit, not really knowing what to do or who to speak to. A few more well enlightened motorsport fans were asking for his autograph as they probably knew as did I, that he would one day soon be in Formula 1. That day was not very long away. 1 year into the future only as at the end of his first and only Formula 3 year, he first tested for Mclaren and then Prost Grand Prix before Williams asked him to come and test against Bruno Junqueira for the second race seat alongside Ralf Schumacher.

2000

A Williams drive in the year 2000 kicked off his Formula 1 career, with highlights at the US Grand Prix in Indianapolis and at Spa where he qualified 3rd.

2001

There was no room at Williams for 2001 as they already had Juan Pablo Montoya under contract and so he was moved to Benetton under the control of Flavio Briatore. Probably their worst car to date led to a frustrating season and calls from Briatore of Button not taking the sport seriously and being a playboy.

2002

This was a much better Button and much better car. Jenson very nearly scored his first podium in Malaysia but the car faded late on in the race and he was passed by Schumacher.

2003

After falling out with Renault boss Flavio Briatore, Jenson’s career looked on the rocks before it had even got going. David Richards who was by this point in charge of the BAR team came to the rescue and offered him a drive alongside World Champion Jacques Villeneuve. Jenson surprised everyone that year by blowing away his supposedly superior team mate.

2004

The break through year! His first podium in Malaysia after two near misses in the previous years races, and followed up with a Pole Position in San Marino with a stunning lap and a succession of podiums left Jenson 3rd in the Driver’s Championship but that win was still elusive.

2005

This sums up 2005. BAR started well and had what looked to be a great car, but they were dis-qualified from San Marino for using a secret fuel tank and had to miss out Monaco as a punishment.

2006

Finally! After years of waiting, hoping and trying the first win came in 2006 in Hungary. Starting 14th, his eyes were on stalks throughout and adrenalin flowing to record a memorable first victory.

2007

After so much promise in 2006, the following two years were a disaster. The cars were so slow and unreliable and it seemed that Honda’s heart was no longer in it, this proved to be true at the end of 2008.

2008

2009

In December 2008, Jenson was knocked out early of the Race of Champions. He came and sat with his friends in the Hospitality box to watch the rest. He had already been told as had the World that Honda had pulled out. He looked relaxed but deflated simultaneously. Lewis was on track at Wembley doing a demonstration as a World Champion in the McLaren and Jenson was left wondering what might have been. He didn’t have to wonder for too long. 2009 was his year.

2010

McLaren was Lewis Hamilton’s team, the team he had joined as a boy and Jenson Button was going there to take him on in his own back yard. People thought he was crazy, but this was a World Champion. No one should have been surprised that over there time together they scored the same amount of wins and Button even out-scored Lewis on points. Jenson made McLaren his team.

2011

Possibly a finer year than 2009? He chased Vettel to the championship and won probably the most memorable Formula 1 race of all time, the 2011 Canadian Grand Prix.

2012

His last win in Formula 1 – the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix.

2013

This was always going to be a transitional year with Mercedes leaving and Honda coming in for 2015.

2014

The first car of the new regulations and what an awful car it turned out to be. Not quite as bad as the 2015 car.

2015

This retirement at Silverstone captured the sentiment of the year

2016

Jenson Button will no doubt go on to have a lot of fun when he starts 2017 and beyond. He will likely compete in Rallycross as his father did and Triathlon’s. We wish him the best of luck. We will miss him.