Jenson Alexander Lyons Button, also known as JB (born January 19, 1980 in Frome, Somerset, England, United Kingdom), is a racing driver who competed in Formula One from 2000 to 2016, and did one race in 2017.[1] He was the 2009 Formula One World Champion, driving for Brawn GP. His car number is 22.
Formula One Career[]
He made his début in 2000 after winning a "shoot-out" with Bruno Junqueira for the second Williams seat. Despite having a strong season, he was replaced by Juan Pablo Montoya for 2001 and moved to Benetton. A difficult season followed, but he stayed on for 2002, where the car (now a Renault) was much stronger and Button finished as best of the drivers who were not from the top three teams. He was replaced by Fernando Alonso for 2003, and Button moved to BAR. He had a good first season with the team, even leading the race in Indianapolis for 15 laps.
2004 was Button's best season to date. With a fantastic car, Button finished the season in third place in the drivers' championship, behind the two Ferrari drivers, taking four second places and six third places in the process. The next season, 2005, was a relative disappointment, Button not scoring until the tenth round. BAR were even banned for two races for illegally using fuel as ballast at the San Marino Grand Prix. However, Button scored points in the final ten races to finish very strongly. In 2006, the team, now Honda, produced another strong car, and Button took his maiden victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix. However, the next two years were awful for Button. In 2007, Button only scored points in three races; in 2008, Button only got one sixth place.

JB celebrating after winning the 2009 Formula 1 season at Interlagos.
2009 was very much different. Honda pulled out of F1, and Button and teammate Rubens Barrichello were unlikely to appear on the grid. That was until a management buyout by team principal, Ross Brawn, saved the team. The car, the BGP 001, was surprisingly nearly a second quicker than the opposition in testing. Button won six of the first seven races to take a lead in the championship which no-one could close down, despite Button only scoring two more podiums, one after having secured the title in Brazil. Mercedes decided to buyout the Brawn team, and Button, in search of a new challenge, joined McLaren. Button started with two wins in his first four races for the team, but did not win any other races in 2010, but he did achieve five other podiums on his way to fifth place in the championship.
In 2011, Button had a much stronger season. After three podiums in the first six races, Button won the Canadian Grand Prix, despite collisions with teammate Lewis Hamilton and Alonso (the latter of which gave Button a puncture) and a drive-through penalty, leaving him last with over twenty laps to go. After two retirements, Button finished very strongly, winning in Hungary on his 200th start and in Japan along with six other podiums in the last nine races to come second in the championship.
Button started 2012 with a win at the first race, the Australian Grand Prix. However, Button did not do very well until the tenth race, Germany, where he came second after Sebastian Vettel's penalty. He then won in Belgium, leading every lap from pole. Button scored points in most of the remaining races, finishing second in Singapore and winning the final race of the season in Brazil, finishing fifth in the championship.
2013 was not a success for the British driver. The MP4-28 was not as good as expected and Button failed to score a single podium, his best result being a fourth place at the final race of the season.
It was announced by McLaren on 11 December 2014 that he would stay with the team for 2015 and 2016.
On 3 September 2016, McLaren confirmed that Button would be replaced by their 2016 reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne for 2017, but that Button would remain as an ambassador and reserve driver for 2017 and 2018.[2][3][4]
On 14 April 2017, McLaren announced that he would race for the team at the 2017 Monaco Grand Prix, following news of Alonso missing the Grand Prix to participate in the Indianapolis 500.[1]
After the end of the 2017 season, McLaren confirmed Button's role as reserve driver to be replaced by Lando Norris for 2018.[5]
Button returned to Williams in 2021, serving as the senior advisor to the team[6].
Formula One Statistical Overview[]
Formula One Record[]
Year | Entrant | Team | WDC Points | WDC Pos. | Report |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2000 | Williams-BMW | 12 | 8th | Report | |
2001 | Benetton-Renault | 2 | 17th | Report | |
2002 | Renault | 14 | 7th | Report | |
2003 | BAR-Honda | 17 | 9th | Report | |
2004 | BAR-Honda | 85 | 3rd | Report | |
2005 | BAR-Honda | 37 | 9th | Report | |
2006 | Honda | 56 | 6th | Report | |
2007 | Honda | 6 | 15th | Report | |
2008 | Honda | 3 | 18th | Report | |
2009 | Brawn-Mercedes | 95 | 1st | Report | |
2010 | McLaren-Mercedes | 214 | 5th | Report | |
2011 | McLaren-Mercedes | 270 | 2nd | Report | |
2012 | McLaren-Mercedes | 188 | 5th | Report | |
2013 | McLaren-Mercedes | 73 | 9th | Report | |
2014 | McLaren-Mercedes | 126 | 8th | Report | |
2015 | McLaren-Honda | 16 | 16th | Report | |
2016 | McLaren-Honda | 21 | 15th | Report | |
2017 | McLaren-Honda | Reserve Driver | |||
0 | – | Report |
Career Statistics[]
Entries | 309 |
Starts | 306 |
Pole Positions | 8 |
Front Row Starts | 24 |
Race Wins | 15 |
Podiums | 50 |
Fastest Laps | 8 |
Points | 1235 |
Laps Raced | 16271 |
Distance Raced | 80863 km (50246 mi) |
Races Led | 42 |
Laps Led | 762 |
Distance Led | 3886 km (2415 mi) |
Doubles | 5 |
Hat-Tricks | 1 |
Race Wins[]
Career Results[]
Complete Formula One Results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | Pts | Pos | ||
2000 | ![]() |
12 | 8th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Ret | 6th | Ret | 5th | 17th† | 10th† | Ret | 11th | 8th | 5th | 4th | 9th | 5th | Ret | Ret | 5th | Ret | |||||||||
2001 | ![]() |
2 | 17th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
14th† | 11th | 10th | 12th | 15th | Ret | 7th | Ret | 13th | 16th† | 15th | 5th | Ret | Ret | Ret | 9th | 7th | |||||||||
2002 | ![]() |
14 | 7th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Ret | 4th | 4th | 5th | 12th† | 7th | Ret | 15th† | 5th | 12th† | 6th | Ret | Ret | Ret | 5th | 8th | 6th | |||||||||
2003 | ![]() |
17 | 9th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
10th | 7th | Ret | 8th | 9th | 4th | DNS | Ret | 7th | Ret | 8th | 8th | 10th | Ret | Ret | 4th | ||||||||||
2004 | ![]() |
85 | 3rd | ||||||||||||||||||||||
6th | 3rd | 3rd | 2nd | 8th | 2nd | 3rd | 3rd | Ret | 5th | 4th | 2nd | 5th | Ret | 3rd | 2nd | 3rd | Ret | ||||||||
2005 | ![]() |
37 | 9th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
11th† | Ret | Ret | DSQ | EXC | EXC | 10th | Ret | DNS | 4th | 5th | 3rd | 5th | 5th | 8th | 3rd | 7th | 5th | 8th | |||||||
2006 | ![]() |
56 | 6th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
4th | 3rd | 10th† | 7th | Ret | 6th | 11th | Ret | 9th | Ret | Ret | 4th | 1st | 4th | 5th | 4th | 4th | 3rd | ||||||||
2007 | ![]() |
6 | 15th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
15th | 12th | Ret | 12th | 11th | Ret | 12th | 8th | 10th | Ret | Ret | 13th | 8th | Ret | 11th† | 5th | Ret | |||||||||
2008 | ![]() |
3 | 18th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Ret | 10th | Ret | 6th | 11th | 11th | 11th | Ret | Ret | 17th | 12th | 13th | 15th | 15th | 9th | 14th | 16th | 13th | ||||||||
2009 | ![]() |
95 | 1st | ||||||||||||||||||||||
1st | 1st [7] |
3rd | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 6th | 5th | 7th | 7th | Ret | 2nd | 5th | 8th | 5th | 3rd | |||||||||
2010 | ![]() |
214 | 5th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
7th | 1st | 8th | 1st | 5th | Ret | 2nd | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 8th | Ret | 2nd | 4th | 4th | 12th | 5th | 3rd | |||||||
2011 | ![]() |
270 | 2nd | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C | 6th | 2nd | 4th | 6th | 3rd | 3rd | 1st | 6th | Ret | Ret | 1st | 3rd | 2nd | 2nd | 1st | 4th | 2nd | 3rd | 3rd | ||||||
2012 | ![]() |
188 | 5th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
1st | 14th | 2nd | 18th† | 9th | 16th† | 16th | 8th | 10th | 2nd | 6th | 1st | Ret | 2nd | 4th | Ret | 5th | 4th | 5th | 1st | ||||||
2013 | ![]() |
73 | 9th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
9th | 17th† | 5th | 10th | 8th | 6th | 12th | 13th | 6th | 7th | 6th | 10th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 14th | 12th | 10th | 4th | |||||||
2014 | ![]() |
126 | 8th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
3rd | 6th | 17th | 11th | 11th | 6th | 4th | 11th | 4th | 8th | 10th | 6th | 8th | Ret | 6th | 4th | 12th | 4th | 5th | |||||||
2015 | ![]() |
16 | 16th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
11th | Ret | 14th | DNS | 16th | 8th | Ret | Ret | Ret | 9th | 14th | 14th | Ret | 16th | 9th | 6th | 14th | 14th | 12th | |||||||
2016 | ![]() |
21 | 15th | ||||||||||||||||||||||
14th | Ret | 13th | 10th | 9th | 9th | Ret | 11th | 6th | 12th | Ret | 8th | Ret | 12th | Ret | 9th | 18th | 9th | 12th | 16th | Ret | |||||
2017 | ![]() |
0 | – | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Ret |
Key | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Symbol | Meaning | Symbol | Meaning | ||
1st | Winner | Ret | Retired | ||
2nd | Podium finish | DSQ | Disqualified | ||
3rd | DNQ | Did not qualify | |||
5th | Points finish | DNPQ | Did not pre-qualify | ||
14th | Non-points finish | TD | Test driver | ||
Italics | Scored point(s) for Fastest Lap | DNS | Did not start | ||
18th† | Classified finish (retired with >90% race distance) | NC | Non-classified finish (<90% race distance) | ||
4thP | Qualified for pole position | [+] More Symbols |
- † Did not finish, but completed over 90% of the race-winners' distance and was classified.
- A red background represents as rewarding half points.
Notes[]
External links[]
V T E | ||
---|---|---|
Seasons 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011 • 2012 • 2013 • 2014 • 2015 • 2016 • 2017 | ||
Season Reports 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011 • 2012 • 2013 • 2014 • 2015 • 2016 • 2017 | ||
Teams Williams (2000) • Benetton (2001) • Renault (2002) • BAR (2003-2005) • Honda (2006-2008) • Brawn (2009) • McLaren (2010–2017) | ||
Teammates Ralf Schumacher (2000) • Giancarlo Fisichella (2001) • Jarno Trulli (2002) • Jacques Villeneuve (2003) • Takuma Sato (2003-2005) • Anthony Davidson (2005) • Rubens Barrichello (2006-2009) • Lewis Hamilton (2010-2012) • Sergio Pérez (2013) • Kevin Magnussen (2014-2015) • Fernando Alonso (2015-2016) • Stoffel Vandoorne (2016-2017) | ||
Other pages Statistics • Teammate comparison • Category |
V T E | ![]() |
|
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Founder Bruce McLaren | ||
Notable Personnel Éric Boullier · Ron Dennis · Tim Goss · Jonathan Neale · Neil Oatley · Peter Prodromou | ||
Former Notable Personnel John Barnard · Gordon Coppuck · Pat Fry · Norbert Haug · Robin Herd · Paddy Lowe · Neil Martin · Teddy Mayer · Sam Michael · Gordon Murray · Adrian Newey · Steve Nichols · Jo Ramirez · Nicholas Tombazis · Martin Whitmarsh | ||
Drivers 3. 4. | ||
World Champions | ||
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Full results | ||
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- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Jenson Button to race at Monaco for McLaren-Honda". 14 April 2017. http://www.mclaren.com/formula1/inside-the-mtc/jenson-button-to-race-at-monaco-for-mclaren-honda/. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
- ↑ "McLaren-Honda announces innovative three-driver strategy". mclaren.com (McLaren). 3 September 2016. http://www.mclaren.com/formula1/team/mclaren-honda-announces-innovative-three-driver-strategy/. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
- ↑ "Vandoorne to partner Alonso at McLaren in 2017 as Button steps back". formula1.com (Formula One Administration). 3 September 2016. http://www.formula1.com/en/latest/headlines/2016/9/button-steps-back-vandoorne-partner-alonso-mclaren-2017.html. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
- ↑ "Button: I'm definitely not retiring". formula1.com (Formula One Administration). 3 September 2016. http://www.formula1.com/en/latest/headlines/2016/9/f1-button-definitely-not-retiring.html. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
- ↑ "Jenson Button has been 'brilliant' for McLaren, says Eric Boullier". 17 November 2017. http://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/11128955/jenson-button-has-been-brilliant-for-mclaren-says-eric-boullier. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
- ↑ F1.com: Jenson Button returns to former team Williams as "senior advisor" in multi-year agreement
- ↑ Race stopped after 31/56 Laps. Half points awarded