Jenson Button: The underrated champion

Unsurprising was the news that emanated from the Italian Grand Prix weekend, being McLaren’s decision to elevate their young-gun Stoffel Vandoorne to a race seat for 2017.

But surprising were the circumstances in which incumbent Jenson Button relinquished his position of almost seven years at the Woking outfit, for the Belgian prospect.

In what McLaren hail as an ‘innovative three driver-strategy’, the 2009 world champion has renewed for another two seasons in which he’ll take up ambassadorial duties, as well as development of the 2017 race car. An option to race in 2018 has been included too.

“Next year I will be an ambassador for this team. I will work with this team in every way I can to make it a better team for the future,” states the 36-year-old, who looks forward to taking a year away from all the hustle and bustle of Formula One.

Soon to be a veteran of over 300 grands prix, the Briton debuted back in 2000 with the Williams team. Since then has accumulated 15 victories and 50 podiums, as well as a sole title crown in 2009.

Despite the longevity and success, Button remains underrated in the eyes of many critics. One apprehension being the comparison to the other champions of the past decade – the likes of Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton, who’ve achieved greater.

A lack of applying an Alonso-style intellect to fine-tuning a car on a consistent basis, seems to outshine the days in which Button ticks all the boxes and attains the
maximum.

The dominant six wins in his title winning 2009 season saw four of them carried out from pole position and seems forgotten amid the derision on his days in the doldrums.

Spa-Francorchamps in 2012 also saw the same commanding display, converting pole position to victory and currently stands as the McLaren incumbent’s one and only pole for the illustrious team.

Eternally the most memorable triumph in Button’s distinguished career will be the rain-soaked Canadian Grand Prix in 2011. The race’s length itself could be mistaken for being the same as the winner’s career, in which five pit-stops were negotiated including repairs for a puncture and a drive-through penalty.

The Red Bull of Vettel went wide at turn six on the final lap, allowing the MP4-26 to emerge into the lead and cruise to the chequered flag – from effectively the bottom of the field, to the top.

It’s forgotten too Button’s gentleman-like character, which is seldom seen in Formula One. Having that quintessential British flair about him, mixed with a bit of James Bond, makes Button a great ambassador for the sport and a fan favourite.

Overall, his patience has been a key to his career. Toiling for three years at BAR before breaking through for his maiden victory in 2006, before another period of uncertainty and hardship leading into the fabled 2009 campaign.

It could be argued that perhaps his patience with McLaren has run out, following seven stabs at winning a second title to no avail. But signing on for two more years, without a race seat in 2017 and ‘multiple’ offers on the table from other teams, shows plenty faith that he can once again win in Formula One and win with McLaren.

Until then, we will miss this underrated champion’s presence on the grid.