Jenson Button’s Career Highlights in F1

Jenson Button is a British former Formula One driver with a successful and lengthy career in the sport. Although he was considered a good mid-team driver with potential for the better part of his performance, he remains the 2009 Formula 1 World Champion and one of the most memorable drivers in the competition’s history, while Jenson Button’s career highlights are difficult to count.

Jenson Button’s Career Highlights: Debut with Williams

Jenson Button debuted with the Williams team in 2000, replacing the retired Alessandro Zanardi. He finished eighth in his first race and impressed with his performances throughout the season, though he sometimes crashed out awkwardly, such as on the opening lap of the Italian GP of 2000. Williams was interested in bringing in a rising star of IndyCar, Juan Pablo Montoya, so they released Button from their contract.

Benetton/Renault

In 2002, Button moved to the Renault team, partnering with Jarno Trulli. We have previously covered Renault highlights in Formula 1, so feel free to read. Impressive races at Sepang and Interlagos showed that Jenson could be a good driver. He scored 14 points and was classified 7th in the Standings – “best of the rest” and higher than his teammate. However, Button was yet again released from the contract in favour of another rising star, Fernando Alonso, who took Button’s seat in 2003.

British American Racing

Button joined BAR in 2003, which was powered by Honda engines. He had a challenging start with the team in 2003, barely earning points in the first half. He still managed to get two 4th-place finishes and completed the season 9th. The team improved over the winter and delivered a fantastic car for 2004. He achieved his first podium in Malaysia and pole position at the San Marino Grand Prix.

He finished the season 3rd in the Standings, overtaking everyone but the two Ferrari drivers. Button’s breakthrough came in 2006 when he won his first Grand Prix at the Hungarian Grand Prix in changing conditions. He finished sixth in the Drivers’ Championship that year.

The 2007 and 2008 seasons saw a drastic decline in Honda’s performance. The team was one of the backmarkers on track, and Button and his teammate Rubens Barrichello struggled to get good results. At the end of 2008, Honda sold its team to their F1 principal, Ross Brawn, for one pound.

Jenson Button’s Career Highlights: The Champion 

In 2009, Button technically joined Brawn GP, as the regulations of that time dictated that if a team changes its name and owner, the team needs to sign their drivers. Button and Barrichello’s line-up remained, and the team was ready to race. It shocked everyone as Button and Barrichello took a 1-2 in qualifying at Albert Park and even took a 1-2 in the race. Jenson then went on to win 6 out of 7 first races, which were crucial in claiming the Title. Brawn’s one-season wonder was a historic achievement, considering the team emerged from the ashes of the bankrupt Honda F1 Team. Bet on the next F1 winner at online sportsbooks in the UK.

Moving to McLaren

Jenson Button’s career highlights continued with his moving to McLaren in 2010, partnering with Lewis Hamilton. He won two races in his first season with McLaren and finished fifth in the Drivers’ Championship. In 2011, he enjoyed even more success, winning three races, including the famous Canadian Grand Prix, where he was at some point last and a lap down but kept his cool and emerged victorious on the last lap courtesy of Sebastian Vettel’s slip. That season, he finished second in the Drivers’ Championship. Button continued with McLaren in 2012, 2013, and 2014; but the team faced performance challenges during these years. He took his last win at Interlagos in 2012.

In 2015, McLaren switched to Honda engines, and Button continued with the team. During 2015 and 2016, he and his new teammate, Fernando Alonso, drove incredibly well and scored essential points despite their abysmal car. He announced that 2016 would be his last season as a full-time F1 driver.

Jenson Button’s Career Highlights: Retirement 

Button took a sabbatical in 2017 but returned for one race as a substitute for Fernando Alonso at the 2017 Monaco Grand Prix and had pretty good odds at Bet365. After his full-time F1 career, Button transitioned to other racing series, including competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship and the Super GT series. He officially retired from racing at the end of 2017. In 2021, he was assigned as a representative of the Williams F1 Team, which forms a full circle as Williams was the team that gave Button his F1 debut.

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