Jenson Button craving for home success
This time last year Jenson Button headed into the British Grand Prix in Silverstone on top of the Formula One drivers’ standings, winning six out of the first seven races with the world championship looking like it was going to be over. The sixth victory at the Turkish Grand Prix was to be his last race win of the season.
The Briton’s home race was a disappointing affair, as he finished in sixth, putting an end to his four-race win streak.
While world champions get praised for the way they have driven throughout a season or for being consistent, Button didn’t get the praise he deserved.
He was unfairly criticised after many pointed out he hadn’t won a race since Turkey, going a further 10 grand prix’s without a win. Former British world champions such as Sir Stirling Moss and Nigel Mansell questioned whether he had the strength to become world champion.
It was the dominance at the beginning of the season that crowned him world champion, and rightly so. He may not have won a race for the rest of the campaign, but he accumulated valuable points ahead of his rivals. You win world titles by collecting the most points, not the most race wins.
This season, Button goes into Silverstone this weekend as world champion and with a battle on his hands against his fellow compatriot Lewis Hamilton. He trails Hamilton by six points, and both drivers have two wins each. “I feel very relaxed, very calm, very content, but hungry to succeed this season. I am excited about getting out in front of the home crowd,” he said.
Button is desperate to add a British Grand Prix win to his superb achievements of a world title and a race victory in Monaco. “For most drivers, the main aim is to win the championship and to win in Monaco. I have achieved both, but also you want to win your own grand prix. That is something I am looking for this weekend.”
The 30-year-old sealed the drivers’ title last year after making his way through the field at the Brazilian Grand Prix, finishing fifth. The race demonstrated all the skills of a world champion, as he pulled off daring manoeuvres and took calculated risks.
As world champion, Button received more criticism, as he decided to leave Brawn-GP (now Mercedes-Benz GP) and make the switch to McLaren. Entering into Hamilton’s territory it led many to believe he wouldn’t stand a chance of retaining his crown, as the team was built around Hamilton. Button is more at home with McLaren, and has proved his critics wrong by taking the fight to Hamilton this season.
“When I finished last year after winning the championship, I thought, ‘Where do I go from here? You don’t plan for what you will do after you win the world championship. I started thinking, ‘I need a new challenge,’ and I thought the best way to do that was to race with McLaren,” said Button.
Having never been on the podium at Silverstone, he stands a great chance of going right to the top step. “I love the British Grand Prix. It is such an amazing atmosphere. We will have a full house. It is special not just because I am British but because of the special atmosphere. This is the home of British motor racing, of all motor racing, in a way, because Formula One started at Silverstone. It will be a great place to win. I can’t wait,” said Button.
This year it could be Button’s time.
Tags: