Jenson Button facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Jenson Button
Jenson Button 2010 Malaysia.jpg
Nationality United Kingdom British
Date of birth 19 January 1980 (1980-01-19) (age 39)
Formula One World Championship career
2011 team McLaren-Mercedes
2011 car # 4
Races 202 (200 starts)
Championships 1 (2009)
Wins 11
Podiums 36
Career points 675
Pole positions 7
Fastest laps 4

Jenson Alexander Lyons Button MBE (born 19 January 1980) is a British racing driver and former Formula One driver. He won the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship, driving for Brawn GP. Button announced in September 2016 that he would be giving up his seat at the end of the 2016 season but remained at McLaren as a reserve driver and ambassador of McLaren until 2018. He currently competes in the Japanese Super GT Series, driving for Team Kunimitsu.

Early career

Jenson Button at Singapore GP 2009
Jenson Button at Singapore GP 2009

Button enjoyed racing from an early age, racing his BMX bike with friends after school, he began karting at the Clay Pigeon Raceway at the age of eight, after his father bought him his first kart, and made an extraordinarily successful start. In 1989, aged nine, he came first in the British Super Prix. He won all 34 races of the 1991 British Cadet Kart Championship, along with the title with team Wright karts. Further successes followed, including three triumphs in the British Open Kart Championship.

In 1997, he won the Ayrton Senna Memorial Cup, and also became the youngest driver ever to win the European Super A Championship. Aged 18, Button moved into car racing, winning the British Formula Ford Championship with Haywood Racing; he also triumphed in the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch. At the end of 1998, he won the annual McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver Award.

Formula One

Jenson Button 2009 Turkey 2
Button driving for Brawn at the 2009 Turkish Grand Prix, his final victory of the season

In 2000, Button joined the BMW WilliamsF1 Team at the age of 20, with Ralf Schumacher. He became the youngest driver to score a point at the Brazilian Grand Prix. He scored points six times during 2000, his highest place finish being in Germany where he finished fourth. His highest place on the grid for the start of the race was 3rd position in Belgium. He finished 8th in the championship.

In 2001, he changed teams to the Benetton team, and raced alongside Giancarlo Fisichella. He did not have much success. His best finish was 5th place at Hockenheim. Some people thought that Button would move teams because of his bad results, but stayed at the team for 2002, which was now called Renault.

Personal life

Jenson Button 2006 helmet 2014 Honda Collection Hall
Jenson Button 2006 helmet 2014 Honda Collection Hall

Like many Formula One drivers, Button resides in the area of Monaco, although he did live in Guernsey for 18 months before returning to Monaco in 2012. He also has properties in the UK and Bahrain. His hobbies include mountain biking, competing in triathlons and body boarding, and his car collection includes a Nissan GT-R, a 1956 VW Campervan, a Honda S600 and a Mercedes C63 AMG, a McLaren 675LT Spider, McLaren P1, numerous Ferraris and his championship winning Brawn BGP 001.

Button is also involved in charitable work through the creation of The Jenson Button Trust. Established in March 2010, the Trust provides donations to a number of charitable causes. Each year the Trust will select and nominate charitable beneficiaries to which the funds will be distributed.

On 18 October 2015, Button won a triathlon competition at Hermosa Beach, California. On 8 December 2016 Button was awarded an honorary doctorate in engineering from the University of Bath.

Images for kids

  • Williams FW22 - Donington Park

    Button's Williams FW22 at the Donington Grand Prix Exhibition

  • Button 2001

    Button at the 2001 French Grand Prix driving for Benetton

  • Button Silverstone 2002

    Button at the 2002 British Grand Prix

  • Jenson button usgp 2004 ontrack

    Button behind the wheel for BAR at the 2004 United States Grand Prix

  • Jenson Button 2005 Canada 2

    Button at the 2005 Canadian Grand Prix, where he took pole position

  • Jenson Button 2006

    Button at the 2006 Bahrain Grand Prix

  • Jenson Button 2006 Canada

    Button at the 2006 Canadian Grand Prix

  • Buttonwin

    Button's first win occurred at the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix

  • Jenson Button 2007 Britain

    Button driving for Honda at the 2007 British Grand Prix

  • Jenson Button 2008 China

    Button driving for Honda at the 2008 Chinese Grand Prix

  • Button Spain 2009

    Button leading the 2009 Spanish Grand Prix

  • Jenson Button 2009 Germany 3

    Button at the 2009 German Grand Prix

  • Jenson Button Bahrain 2010 cropped

    Button's first race for McLaren was the 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix

  • Button Australia 2010 (cropped)

    Button took his first victory with McLaren at the 2010 Australian Grand Prix

  • 2011 Canadian GP - Winner

    Button celebrating victory at the 2011 Canadian Grand Prix

  • Jenson Button 2012 Malaysia Qualify

    Button driving for McLaren at the 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix

  • Jenson Button at 2012 Monaco Grand Prix

    Button at the 2012 Monaco Grand Prix

  • Jenson Button, United States Grand Prix, Austin 2012

    Button at the 2012 United States Grand Prix

  • 2013 Italian GP - Button

    Button at the 2013 Italian Grand Prix

  • Jenson Button 2014 Singapore FP2

    Starting at the 2014 British Grand Prix, Button sported a pink helmet in line with his "Pink for Papa" campaign, collecting donations in the name of his late father

  • Jenson Button Canada 2015

    Button at the 2015 Canadian Grand Prix

  • Button Bahrain 2016

    Button at the 2016 Bahrain Grand Prix


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