Monoposto

Nº 31

Jenson Button

2009 World Champion

Brawn GP F1 Team

Overview

Jenson Alexander Lyons Button, born in Frome, Somerset, on 19 January 1980, is a British racing driver who won the 2009 World Drivers' Championship with Brawn GP.1 The team had only been created that March, after Honda withdrew from the sport.1

He made his debut with Williams in 2000 and took his first win with Honda in Hungary in 2006, in his 113th start.1 He spent his last full seasons at McLaren, finishing in 2016.1

2009

Six wins, 11 points clear of Sebastian Vettel

A team rescued in winter

Honda quit Formula One in December 2008. In February, Ross Brawn led a management buyout for a nominal fee, and the renamed team reached the grid with a car whose double diffuser rivals tried and failed to have banned.13

Six of the first seven

Button won six of the first seven races, equalling the record.1 The second half was harder, without another win, but fifth in Brazil sealed the title with one round left.12 Brawn GP won the constructors' title in its only season.13

Every Grand Prix finish, 2009

Numeral size follows the result. Round 1 at left.

Image plates

4 photographs, in season order

Helmet

His helmet carries a Union Jack at the rear and a red circle on top, a nod to Japan.4 A special design in 2014 honoured his late father, John.5

The drawing shows his 2009 design.

A drawing of his 2009 design.

Auge=mit · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Background removed

Brawn BGP 001

The BGP 001 began as the Honda RA109K.3 It first ran in plain white, fluorescent yellow and black, with only a few logos, and won eight of 17 races.3 The FIA's appeal court ruled its double diffuser legal in April 2009.3

A Brawn BGP 001 at Goodwood, 2009.

Brian Snelson · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Engine
Mercedes-Benz FO 108W
Team wins, both drivers
8 of 17
Team points
172

Road to the title

  1. 1991British Cadet Kart champion, winning all 34 races.1
  2. 1997European Super A champion, its youngest winner.1
  3. 1998British Formula Ford champion.1
  4. 2000Formula One debut with Williams.1
  5. 2006First win, with Honda in Hungary.1
  6. 2009World Drivers' Champion with Brawn GP.1
  7. 2010–16Raced for McLaren.1

Records

  • Youngest driver to score a point at the time, Brazil 20001
  • Six wins in the first seven races, equalling the record1

Sources