Button Focused on Title Defense
Newly Crowned F1 Champion Aims to Repeat Victory in 2010
Oct 20, 2009
Jenson Button sealed his first Formula One World Championship with a fifth place finish in difficult conditions at Interlagos in Brazil. With his triumph still fresh, the ambitious Button is looking forward to continuing his success next season. He is determined to prove that both he, and constructor team Brawn, can repeat their accomplishment in 2010:
"This team is not a one-hit wonder and neither am I." – Jenson Button.
With his victory in the 2009 Championship Jenson Button became the tenth British man to win motor sport's highest honor. However, he aims to do something that none of his compatriots managed by successfully defending his title.
British Formula One World Champions
- Mike Hawthorn (1958)
- Graham Hill (1962, 1968)
- Jim Clark (1963, 1965)
- John Surtees (1964)
- Sir Jackie Stewart (1969, 1971, 1973)
- James Hunt (1976)
- Nigel Mansell (1992)
- Damon Hill (1996)
- Lewis Hamilton (2008)
- Jenson Button (2009)
The United Kingdom is the most successful nation in the history of Formula One. Ten British drivers have won a combined number of 14 championships, significantly more that any other nation.
Success At Formula One: By Nation
- United Kingdom......14 Championships, 10 Drivers
- Brazil.......................8 Championships, 3 Drivers
- Germany..................7 Championships, 1 Driver
- Argentina.................5 Championships, 1 Driver
- Finland.....................4 Championships, 3 Drivers
- Australia...................4 Championships, 2 Drivers
- Austria......................4 Championships, 2 Drivers
- France......................4 Championships, 1 Driver
- Italy...........................3 Championships, 2 Drivers
- USA..........................2 Championships, 2 Drivers
- Spain........................2 Championships, 1 Driver
- Canada.....................1 Championship, 1 Driver
- New Zealand............1 Championship, 1 Driver
- South Africa..............1 Championship, 1 Driver
Surprisingly, however, given the nation’s great number of championship victories, no individual British driver has ever successfully defended his title. This is a feat that has been achieved by eight other interntional racers: Michael Schumacher (Germany), Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina), Alain Prost (France), Jack Babham (Australia), Ayrton Senna (Brazil), Alberto Ascari (Italy), Mika Hakkinen (Finland), Fernado Alonso (Spain).
Jenson Button’s Place in History
Although Jenson Button’s victory in the 2009 championship was an amazing feat, he believes he can go on to achieve more success. He wants to secure his place in the history of Formula One by accomplishing something no other British driver has realized:
"No British driver has ever won back-to-back titles - so that's an ambition,"- Jenson Button.
If Button is crowned champion in 2010 he will take his place in history, along side Formula One’s greatest drivers. Achieving this aim, however, will be tough for a man who has not performed well in the second half of the season, and has not won a race since early June.
The eagerly anticipated 2010 Formula One season will begin on the 14 March, with the Bahrain Grand Prix. Button will be among the favorites to win, along with fellow Britain Lewis Halmilton and two-time champion Fernando Alonso.
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