A detailed profile of Formula 1 driver of McLaren-Mercedes team Jenson Button
Jenson Button started Karting at the age of 8 and got several achievements in racing. He started his career as Formula 1 racer in 2000.
Starting off with the Williams team, Button was able to get a sixth place finish in Brazil as the youngest driver of Formula 1 in 2000. He got a third place in Belgian Grand Prix and was fourth in the German Grand Prix.
Season 2001 was not a good one for Button as he was unable to prove his skills with an uncompetitive car. He had to face many rumours that he will soon be replaced. The reason was obviously his inexperience.
In the following year, after getting a new teammate, Jarno Trulli, Button spent a lot of time with his engineering team and got some improvements. After the modifications, he was able to show an improved performance however, he could not make it to the podium
because of suspension problem. It was the same performance which gave him chance to take part in British American Racing (BAR).
In BAR, he was opposed by his new teammate Jacques Villeneuve. The opposition, based on his driving skills was well answered by Button who was able to score eight points, whereas Villeneuve could only score three.
Year 2004 brought some changes in the life of Button when made his way to the third position in the Drivers’ Championship and took BAR to take second in the Constructors’ Championship.
Due to a dispute in the contract Button chose to leave BAR and signed a contract with Williams. However, the issue was brought before Formula 1 Contract Recognition Board, which decided against Button and he had to stay with BAR.
Year 2005 did not prove to be very good for Button either. He faced several problems with his car and was penalised by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) after his car was found to be underweight. It was later proved that BAR was not intentionally
cheating.
Later in 2005 season, Button made a comeback by finishing on the podium, twice in German and Belgian Grands Prix. He surprisingly scored in all of the following races. The team was bought by Honda and Button’s partner was replaced by Rubens Barrichello.
Button took some time to adjust with Honda and later in 2006, he achieved good results with his car. It was very first time in his career that he won the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Years 2007 and 2008 were not so good for Button, as he did not show any extraordinary performances. Later in 2008, Honda announced that they were leaving Formula 1 racing.
In 2009, Honda was renamed as Brawn GP and returned to Formula 1 with Button and Rubens Barrichello as their drivers. This was the season in which Jenson Button won the drivers’ championship for the first time in his career.
Their team Brawn GP benefitted from the innovative diffuser design and outperformed other teams. He could not perform well in the middle of the season but was eventually able to make his way back. He describes the season as the best season of his life.
From 2010 to date Button joined McLaren with the motive of competing Lewis Hamilton his new teammate. He did not waste much time in adjusting and started showing good performances. He got very close to Hamilton in terms of scoring points.
2011 witnessed close competition between Button, Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel but Button managed to finish second marginally behind Vettel.
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