This weekend’s season finale at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi not only signals the end of the longest season in Formula One history, it also signals the end of Jenson Button’s 17 yearlong Formula One career.
While it may not officially be the end, as the door is open for him to return as a driver to the McLaren team in 2018, Jenson won’t be gracing the tracks around the world in 2017 as he takes a well-earned break.
So, as we prepare to say goodbye, for now, we thought we would share this A to Z of all that is Jenson Button with you….
A is for: Fernando Alonso, his teammate at McLaren.
B is for: John Button, his devoted father that travelled to every venue around the world to watch his son race. Sadly he passed away on the 12th January 2014 from a heart attack.
C is for: Championship, something he won in 2009.
D is for: his driving style which is often described as being graceful and beautifully co-ordinated.
E is for: Erling Jensen, his father’s Danish friend and rallycross opponent that Jenson was named after.
F is for: failure, something he did on his first ever driving test for getting too close to a parked vehicle.
G is for: Goodbye, something he will be saying to his Formula One career in Abu Dhabi this weekend.
H is for: Honda, the engine he was using when he won his first and only world championship as well as the engine he will use to run his last race.
I is for: Interlagos, the circuit where he clinched his title in 2009 with one round remaining in the season.
J is for: January, the month he was born in back in 1980.
K is for: Korean Super Prix where he finished second in 1999.
L is for: His first fiancée, actress and singer Louise Griffiths, but he ended their five year relationship in May of 05.
M is for: Monaco, where, like most of his fellow F1 drivers, Jenson resides.
N is for: Nissan GT-R, one of the many cars in Jenson’s private car collection.
O is for: Open, something that he is keeping his chances of returning to F1 in 2018
P is for: Passion for racing, something Jenson still has after 16 years in Formula One
Q is for: Quality. No matter how poorly his car may behave, the quality of Jenson’s performances are always a pleasure to watch.
R is for: Ross Brawn, the man who had faith in him and took him to world championship glory in 2009
S is for: Sabbatical, something he is taking in 2017 with a view to return to race for McLaren in 2018.
T is for: Tattoos and Jenson has at least three of them.
U is for: Under-performing, something his McLaren-Honda has been doing for the past two seasons
V is for: Victory, his first coming in a chaotic Hungarian Grand Prix in 2006
W is for: Sir Frank Williams, who gave him his break in Formula One back in 2000
X is for: XXL, the size of Jenson’s talent and heart.
Y is for: Years and the 17 of them that he has devoted to the pinnacle of Motorsports.
Z is for: Alex Zanardi, the man who left Williams and opened the door for Jenson to move into Formula One.
Goodbye Jenson, your presence in the F1 paddock will definitely be missed by everyone.
