How a discarded racing team became the unlikely home of a world champion
In short: Jenson Button faced a career dead end when Honda abruptly exited Formula One in 2008. Left without a seat, he joined a management buyout that transformed the struggling squad into Brawn GP. Against long odds, Button dominated the 2009 season, securing the championship in a stunning display of resilience and engineering.
Jenson Button’s path to the 2009 World Drivers' Championship was anything but conventional. After Honda withdrew from Formula One in December 2008 due to the global financial crisis, Button found himself without a team. His prospects seemed bleak until Ross Brawn orchestrated a management buyout in early 2009. Renamed Brawn GP, the team provided Button with the BGP 001, a vehicle that proved unexpectedly superior during pre-season testing thanks to its efficient aerodynamics and Mercedes-Benz engine.
The transformation was immediate. Despite being considered a 100–1 long shot by bookmakers, Button achieved a historic run of victories, winning most of the opening events of the 2009 calendar. His consistency allowed him to maintain a points lead throughout the year, ultimately clinching the title at the Brazilian Grand Prix. This triumph was a remarkable turnaround for a driver who had spent years navigating team changes, contract disputes, and the label of a 'playboy' during his early, less successful stints at Benetton and Renault.
Button’s career was defined by this ability to adapt. From his early karting days in Somerset—where his father taught him car control on wet tracks—to his professional debut as Britain's youngest F1 driver at the time, he constantly refined his approach. Even after his 2009 peak and subsequent years at McLaren, he continued to evolve, eventually winning the Super GT Series in 2018. His journey from a discarded driver to a world champion remains a testament to the volatile, high-stakes nature of elite motorsport, where success often hinges on the intersection of technical innovation and personal tenacity.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Jenson Button
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