Posted by 
Definitely an outside favourite, the veteran Brit has a refreshingly playboy dispensation regarding the sport as a whole. His cavalier attitude regarding contractual obligations has in the past left many a nose out of joint, but few would dare criticise his spirit and charisma in the face of the overwhelming poor fortune he has displayed of late.
Champion
Jenson Button, has had a phenomenal rise to Formula One, newer audiences, unaware of his potential may not fully understand how he eclipsed his rivals in the youth series’ of karting, Formula Ford and Formula Three; winning all 34 races of the 1991 British Cadet Kart Championship, the British Formula Ford Championship in 1998 and taking several wins in the F3 championship, finishing as overall top rookie driver.
Signing with Williams F1 in 2000, Button had several test drives, one with McLaren. His debut year was full of highs and lows, as fully expected. But it was Button’s off track performances that were earning him more of a name, and a bad reputation depending on who you’re talking to. Severing contracts with two teams in two seasons, Button was effectively in the wrong place at the wrong time, all the time.
Money
Despite, several seasons now of underwhelming performances, Button was one of the highest paid drivers on the grid until an announcement made public in the past weeks revealed a huge cut in salary for the Englishman, which also saw the reshuffling of expenses to be paid exclusively by Jenson. You can, and certainly will have your own opinions about this, but as the first driver to assume this fiscal responsibility, criticism would be grossly misdirected.
The future’s bright, the future’s a sort of yellowish green…
It has been sad not to see the fulfilment of this great driver over the past years, but BrawnGP/Honda now a full season under the premiership of the sport’s finest technical director, is well placed to produce a stunning and reliable race car. In this guise, it would be wholly satisfying to see Jense challenge this year.
FILL
FILL
Memorable Moments
Playtime at Brackley
A Little Respect Please Nick…
I have to say, and I’m allowed to as his brother, that Jenson really seems to have everyone convinced he is a great driver just he’s never had the right car. Well I’m not so sure. Why, if that is the case, was he not consistently out-performing Barichello in qualifying and races last year? Ruebens is practically collecting his pension!
And I have to say any driver who slags off and places the blame for his under-performance wholly on the team and the car they have provided him with (as I’ve seen him do numerable times) is breaking an unspoken gentleman’s rule. A rule which shows the driver is not above or apart from the team but part of it, and one which shows respect and class.
Sounds a bit too much like a letter to the Telegraph now, but wanted to get that off my chest.
I think you’ve got a fair point, and it’s down to your point of view how to take his comments about the car. To my knowledge, Button never intentionally or literally criticised his team, it was the car that took the hammering, this was certainly true in the mid to latter part of 2008 when he would frequently call the car shit, citing a tactical decision to focus resources on the 09 challenger.
He’s pissed a lot of people off over the years, but he’s not a slave to sponsors and when he gets annoyed he’ll speak his mind. I think there is that British hope for Button, but you must admit that the Hamilton-effect has taken much of the attention away from, when he’s on form, a pretty great driver.
Let’s see what he does this season, this will make or break it for me I think. He’s going to have what promises to be a stonking great car, so fingers crossed eh?