Jenson Button’s 300 races in 100 pictures

2016 Malaysian Grand Prix

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Jenson Button will be hanging up his helmet – for one season at least – come the end of 2016.

In Malaysia he reached a landmark 300 grand prix starts, something only two other drivers in Formula One history have achieved.

Button arrived in Formula One at the beginning of the 2000 season with Williams. He was a surprise appointment to the seat vacated by Alessandro Zanardi, after beating Bruno Junqueira in a shoot-out test arranged by the team.

However it was a one-year appointment only: Button had to make way for Juan Pablo Montoya at the end of the season. He moved on to Benetton, which became Renault the following year, but after being ousted by Fernando Alonso he headed to BAR.

The takeover of that team by Honda helped Button become a grand prix winner at the Hungaroring in 2006. But a disastrous two seasons followed as Honda produced a pair of terrible cars. They made plans for a big push to coincide with a regulations change in 2009, only for the parent company to pull the plug on the team at the end of 2008. But this proved the beginning of one of the most remarkable championship victories in F1 history.

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A management buy-out saved the team and they raced on with their superbly conceived BGP-001 chassis, now powered by Mercedes, and a string of early-season wins by Button put him on course for the title. Despite a more challenging second half of the season as the team’s rivals caught up with them, he clinched the championship with a race to spare.

He took his title to McLaren where he spent three years racing alongside Lewis Hamilton. More wins followed, but no further championships, and as the team split from Mercedes to reunite with Honda their competitiveness suffered.

Button could yet return to F1 racing in 2018. But there is a strong chance the remaining five races will be the last of his remarkable grand prix career. Take a look back on his first 300 starts in pictures.

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Author information

Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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23 comments on “Jenson Button’s 300 races in 100 pictures”

  1. This is the second Jenson article in last few weeks. But none on Massa. Why is that, Keith?

    1. This is an article on Button’s 300th race start. Massa has not started 300 races.

      1. We didn’t even get a Massa’s career in pictures article after he announced his retirement.

        1. I will probably come after he actually retired, cause only then it can completely cover his entire F1 career.

        2. We didn’t even get a Massa’s career in pictures article after he announced his retirement.

          Nor was there one for Button. For the same obvious reason, the one which @unitedkingdomracing has correctly assumed, which is that his career hasn’t finished yet.

  2. Some very pretty cars. The BAR 006 was particularly beautiful in my opinion, its simplicity (not just with the livery) somehow works perfectly. Also the 2012 McLaren, that was beautiful as well.

    But then you see the 2014 model… and you realize how good it is that you forgot about those anteater noses so quickly! god they were horrible! the platypus noses from 2012 were pieces of art in comparision!

  3. Button’s one of my all times favourites! I have watched most of his races, but this was a nice throwback. Thanks for compiling!

  4. Very nice selection, Keith. Every single season, all his teams, perfect.

    Still, I think “THE” picture is missing here. How to forget the hug Jenson gave to his father after consolidating his WDC in Brazil 2009… that’s the peak of Button’s career and that moment will possibly be the first I think about after hearing his name in a few years time.

  5. That Honda RA106 is so gorgeous!

  6. OmarRoncal - Go Seb!!! (@)
    4th October 2016, 16:40

    Papa Smurf should appear in that picture @kimiraikkonen5 mentions. I agree.
    And I miss seeing Jessica on the grid :(

  7. The victory shot on parc ferme in Alber Park 2009 is awesome.

    Sunset.. JB and Brawn in, having rose from their flames in a mere Winter’s length, signalling a new era not only for him and the team, but also for the entire sport.

  8. Does anyone know why his car has Trulli’s name on it in the picture from Sepang 2002 (9th image)?

    1. @geemac First idea which springs to mind is that it could have been the spare car.

    2. Jorge Vinueza
      6th October 2016, 3:12

      because it is Trulli

  9. Great compilation but where there no pictures of the 2001 season available?

    1. @unitedkingdomracing Simply because I haven’t been able to obtain any from that year! But it’s not as if it was a particularly significant season in his career.

      1. I think it was the tough year that made him a man. He was so much better in 2002. One of his greatest strengths is his character and resilience.

        Plus it weirdly demonstrates how good Fisichella was between 1997 and 2003

  10. Johny Hakkinen
    4th October 2016, 19:52

    No single Benetton 2001 picture, why?

  11. Thank you so much @keithcollantine. Next year will be so different without Jenson in the paddock.

  12. Its amazing to think that he’s been in the sport for 16 seasons. I have always had a soft spot for him, I don’t think he’s truly the fastest driver we’ve had in the sport, and his WDC will always be remembered as the lucky guy in a dream car, but I certainly don’t think he’s completely an undeserving WDC.

    I almost had forgotten about the dumbo ears of the Honda Earth Dreams car in 2008… That image @keithcollantine is possibly the most hideous I have seen from any era of motorsport.

    1. @dragoll I thought they looked strange too but I miss having clear visual elements like that which allow you to distinguish between the cars.

  13. 100 pictures… and no Jessica !! How did you guys manage that ?!!

    :/

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