Life in the Fast Lane Leaves Jenson Button Way Behind Lewis Hamilton

Shortly after arriving in Formula 1 in 2000, Jenson Button was marked as a future world champion, impressing with his speed in his Williams car at the Belgian Grand Prix and just missing out on a podium finish.

Button was the new darling of British motorsport, having won a test with world champions McLaren, while also testing for Prost before winning a race ‘shoot-out’ for the second seat at Williams. He became the sport’s youngest ever points scorer in just his second Grand Prix, a record he held until the 2007 US Grand Prix when Sebastian Vettel finished eighth for BMW.

Under contract with the independent Williams team, but farmed out to Renault for 2001-02 and then to BAR for the 2003 season, Button was a puppet in Frank Williams’s show as he continued his F1 development. It was expected that he would return to Williams in 2005, with none of the big constructors interested in his services and no large cash windfall to come from buying out his contract.

However, after Button publicly announced he was returning to Williams, BAR launched a contract dispute, claiming Button was their driver for 2005. The dispute was eventually resolved by the FIA’s Contract Recognition Board, only for Button to cause more contractual problems by declaring that he would not drive for Williams in 2006 despite having signed with them.

Eventually, BAR would buy out Button’s two-year contract with Williams for a reported £15m, allowing him to continue his F1 career, but the chance of a move to a big team and eternal glory had gone.

Honda’s buy-out of BAR in 2006 meant Button’s hopes of again challenging for the title improved considerably, with his first race win coming at the Hungarian Grand Prix that year – in the same year that his Renault replacement, Fernando Alonso, secured his second driver’s crown.

Button’s major problem has been his poor decision-making and attitude. The raw talent was there, but he continually made mistakes on the track while poor support off the track would lead to his career stalling as he enjoyed the high life.

He became one of a number of drivers to move to Monte Carlo and take full advantage of the playboy lifestyle that comes with the circus that is Formula 1. Friend and fellow F1 driver David Coulthard should take some responsibility for that, having been a fully paid up member of the lifestyle for much of his own title-shy career.

With the emergence of Lewis Hamilton at McLaren in 2007, Button is no longer expected to be the first British world champion since Damon Hill in 1996, and unless Honda dramatically improve their car, it is difficult to see how Button will achieve a second race win, never mind challenge for the title.

Button’s year was 2004, finishing third in the world drivers’ championship, but he failed to build on his 10 podium finishes, only winning his first F1 race in 2006.

It is difficult to argue that Button’s lack of success is down to the opportunities available to him. He had them, but when it mattered most failed to take them, leaving him with a mediocre, albeit extremely lucrative career.