Farewell, Jenson Button - Wrapping up the Brit's time in Formula One
Published by Christine
It's been a while since we had drivers voluntarily stepping back from their race seats, but 2016 has seen potentially three names doing just that. Jenson Button initially wanted it to seem like he was just taking a single year out and could be back behind the wheel in future seasons, but as the 2016 calendar wore on, it was more obvious that he was looking forward to the break and probably wouldn't be back.
With that being the case, it seems only fair to bid farewell to Jenson Button with a look back at some of his features and best links from across the years on Sidepodcast.
Jenson Button has become the most experienced racer on the F1 grid, having been a part of the paddock since the turn of the millennium. He has one championship to his name, won with Brawn GP in 2009. After his title winning season, he moved to McLaren where he has remained ever since, hoping to rekindle the Woking team’s competitiveness and fight for a second title.
Following the 2016 Formula One season finale, and at the end of his lengthy F1 career, Jenson Button had a new reason to celebrate. The McLaren racer was given an honorary degree from the University of Bath, promoting him to Doctor of Engineering. And, in his own inimitable style, Button grabbed on to that honour and wouldn't let go.
Jenson Button made a quick visit to the streets of Manchester City Centre on Monday, following his podium finish at the Belgian Grand Prix over the weekend. The demonstration was part of a three-day Vodafone event, with an F1 simulator, pit stop challenge, and helmet exhibition.
Last night was the Sport Relief telethon, in which recognisable names, both in sport and other fields, got together to do their bit for charity. The main challenges went to Eddie Izzard, who ran a million marathons, to the group who cycled for ages, and to Christine Bleakely who water-skiied across the channel. For us, though, the highlights came from spotting our F1 heroes taking part in all things sporting.
We heard Jenson Button would be teaming up with Walkers Crisps to film some adverts, and the tabloids have been full of sneak peeks at Jenson in a tailor-made cab. I even referenced one particular picture for Christine's Rankings this week - marking JB down for the corny cab name.
After being rather anonymous at the back of the grid in a Honda car for the past few years, Button certainly made his point this season. He and his Brawn car burst onto the grid in 2009, winning six out of the first seven races, and placing third in the one that got away. That isn't a start to be sniffed at.
During the lead up to the 2011 F1 season opener in Melbourne, Vodafone and McLaren flexed their marketing muscles to organise an F1/V8 driver swap day at the famous Mt Panorama circuit in Bathurst NSW. The swapping was done with local V8 Supercar hero Craig Lowndes and his Vodafone sponsored Holden Commodore racer, essentially a (heavily regulated... a rant for another day!) locally produced, Vauxhall Omega based, sedan kitted out with a 5.0 litre V8 engine making around 650ps.
Jenson Button’s father John has passed away from a suspected heart attack at the age of 70. Tributes have poured in for John, a passionate and memorable figure in the F1 paddock, and friend of many. Sky F1 broadcaster David Croft praised him as a “truly lovely guy and a pleasure to have known. To sit and share some time and the odd glass of red wine with John Button was always a delight.”
It has been speculated endlessly since Monday's Mercedes/Brawn announcement, but today Jenson Button has been confirmed as a McLaren driver for 2010. Button will partner Lewis Hamilton, creating an all-British driver line-up for next season.
I was mighty pleased to discover today that McLaren's brilliant animated series Tooned has made its merry way onto the iTunes Store. Both Christine and I were hugely impressed with the show last year, and I've been keen to own a copy since episode one.
Jenson Button has announced he will be taking a step back from a full time race drive in Formula One after this season has been completed, but he’s not retiring completely. Unlike Felipe Massa, who confirmed his retirement from the sport this week, Button intends to remain with McLaren and work with them on what they are calling an “innovative three-driver strategy.”
