F1 pays tribute to John Button // The Formula One world sends love and thoughts to the Button family
Published by Christine
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.” Retired racer Dario Franchitti said: “One of life’s good guys who enjoyed every day and the prototype of the cool racing dad.”
Martin Whitmarsh spoke at length about John, paying tribute to him for being “more devoted to his son than any of them.” He added: “This coming season will be Jenson's fifth as a McLaren driver. I believe John has attended every grand prix over the past four seasons, and over that period he's become a unique and, I think it's fair to say, irreplaceable part of the McLaren ‘family’. He was not only a great dad, but also a lovely man, and he'll be enormously missed by Jenson, of course, by all at McLaren, and indeed by the Formula 1 community at large.”
Thoughts are with Jenson and the rest of the Button family at this difficult time.
