The 2009 Formula One World Drivers' Championship was secured by Jenson Button after winning six of the first seven races of the season with Brawn GP. Born in 1980 in Frome, United Kingdom, he built a career spanning eighteen seasons, ultimately competing in 306 Grand Prix races before transitioning to other motorsport disciplines.
Early Development and Karting
Raised in Vobster and Mells, Button received his first kart as a Christmas gift in 1987. His father, a former rallycross driver, focused his training on car control, often mandating practice on wet surfaces. By age nine, he won the British Super Prix. In 1991, he achieved a perfect record by winning all 34 races of the British Cadet Kart Championship. Throughout the 1990s, he progressed through various international karting categories, including the Formula A World Championship, where he became the youngest runner-up at age 15.
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Button entered Formula One with Williams in 2000. He moved to the Benetton team, which became Renault in 2002, before joining BAR in 2003. A highlight of this period was the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix, where he secured his first victory after 113 race starts. Following Honda's withdrawal from the sport in 2008, he joined the newly formed Brawn GP, where he dominated the 2009 season to claim the World Drivers' Championship.
McLaren Era and Beyond
In 2010, Button transferred to McLaren, where he finished as the championship runner-up in 2011. He remained with the team until his initial retirement at the end of 2016, though he returned for a one-off entry at the 2017 Monaco Grand Prix. His career statistics include 15 Grand Prix wins, eight pole positions, fifty podium finishes, and 1,235 championship points.
Fast facts
- Born: 1980, Frome, United Kingdom
- Formula One World Champion: 2009
- Formula One career: 2000-2017
- Career F1 wins: 15
- 2018 Super GT Series champion
- Member of the Order of the British Empire
- BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year (2000)
- Laureus World Sports Award for Breakthrough of the Year (2010)
Questions readers ask
Which teams did Jenson Button drive for in Formula One?
His teams included Williams, Benetton, Renault, BAR, Honda, Brawn GP, and McLaren.
Did Jenson Button win any championships after leaving Formula One?
Yes, he won the 2018 Super GT Series championship while driving for Team Kunimitsu.
Achievements
- Laureus World Sports Award for Breakthrough of the Year
- Member of the Order of the British Empire
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