Editing Jenson Button (section)

====Honda (2006–2008)====

===== 2006 =====
[[File:Jenson Button 2006 Canada.jpg|thumb|right|Button driving the [[Honda RA106]] which he drove to victory at the {{F1GP||2006 Hungarian}}.]]
BAR was renamed [[Honda in Formula One|Honda]] prior to 2006 following a buyout by the Japanese manufacturer and Button was partnered by the experienced [[Rubens Barrichello]].<ref name=DTJun06/> Honda granted Button equal status and he would receive no preferential treatment alongside Barrichello.<ref>{{cite web|last=Noble|first=Jonathan|title=Button and Barrichello to Get Equal Status|url=https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/47129/button-and-barrichello-to-get-equal-status|work=Autosport|date=22 September 2005|access-date=14 August 2020}}</ref> The new team performed well in testing, helped by the extra resources now available from Honda, and Button was confident in the car.<ref name=DTJun06>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2331228/Patient-Button-finds-the-car-to-break-his-duck.html|title=Patient Button finds the car to break his duck|first=Kevin|last=Garside|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=26 June 2006|access-date=3 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130903000950/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2331228/Patient-Button-finds-the-car-to-break-his-duck.html|archive-date=3 September 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> He had been frustrated by not converting his increasing experience and confidence in his driving into success in 2005 and was excited about Honda's car and engine development enabling race victory challenges.{{Sfn|Button|2017|p=188}} Button scored points in five of the first eleven races, finishing third at the second round, the {{F1GP|2006|Malaysian}}, and pole position for the following {{F1GP|2006|Australian}}.<ref name=Results>{{cite web|title=Jenson Button Results|url=https://motorsportstats.com/driver/jenson-button/results|publisher=Motorsport Stats|access-date=21 November 2021|archive-date=17 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017122549/https://motorsportstats.com/driver/jenson-button/results|url-status=live}}</ref> The first win of his career was at a rain-affected {{F1 GP|2006|Hungarian}} from a 14th position start&nbsp;– the 113th Grand Prix start of his career.{{sfn|Hamilton|2020|p=216}} Button finished fourth or fifth at each of the next five races and ended the season with a podium finish at the final round in [[2006 Brazilian Grand Prix|Brazil]]. Over the last six races of the season, he scored more points (35) than any other driver.<ref name="f1f2006stats">{{cite web | title = F1 2006 review: stats | publisher = F1Fanatic.co.uk | year = 2006 | url = http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2006/11/05/f1-2006-stats-review/ | access-date = 12 August 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120213235448/http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2006/11/05/f1-2006-stats-review/ | archive-date = 13 February 2012 | url-status = live }}</ref>

===== 2007 =====
[[File:Jenson Button 2007 Britain.jpg|thumb|left|Button driving for [[Honda in Formula One|Honda]] at the {{F1GP||2007 Chinese}}.]]

In {{F1|2007}}, Button again drove with Honda alongside Barrichello. He was unable to partake in pre-season testing because of two hairline fractures to his ribs, sustained in a karting incident in late 2006.<ref>{{cite web|title=Button hurts himself while karting|url=http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns17804.html|date=27 November 2006|publisher=GrandPrix.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016133203/http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns17804.html|archive-date=16 October 2015|access-date=2 February 2016}}</ref> His [[Honda RA107]] car had an [[Aerodynamics|aerodynamic]] imbalance from lacking grip after [[Shuhei Nakamoto]] was appointed Senior Technical Director following the departure of [[Geoff Willis]].{{sfn|Henry|2009|p=133}}{{Sfn|Button|2017|p=200}}<ref>{{cite news|last=Garside|first=Kevin|title=Ross Brawn coup is on the Button for Honda|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/kevingarside/2325571/Ross-Brawn-coup-is-on-the-Button-for-Honda.html|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=12 November 2007|access-date=14 June 2020|url-status=live|archive-date=14 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614093601/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/kevingarside/2325571/Ross-Brawn-coup-is-on-the-Button-for-Honda.html}}</ref> His year was worse than in 2006, driving within the middle of the field and usually qualifying outside of the top ten. He scored six points over the course of the season for 15th overall with a best finish of fifth at the rain-affected {{F1GP|2007|Chinese}}.<ref name=RFBio/><ref name=MMagBio/>

===== 2008 =====
[[File:Jenson Button 2008 China.jpg|thumb|Button driving for Honda at the {{F1GP||2008 Chinese}}.]]
Button stayed with Honda for {{F1|2008}}, and continued to be partnered by Barrichello. He and a group of friends went to [[Lanzarote]] to establish a base to train for the upcoming season. Button was confident since the technical director [[Ross Brawn]] became Honda's team principal and noticed wind tunnel designs of the car.{{Sfn|Button|2017|pp=203–204}} Button began working with human performance coach Michael Collier that year.<ref name=BUTCurious/> The [[Honda RA108]] proved to be uncompetitive, and he scored three points that year because he finished sixth at the {{F1 GP|2008|Spanish}}.{{Sfn|Button|2017|pp=203–204}}

On the morning of 4 December 2008, the [[2008 financial crisis]] caused Honda to withdraw from F1, leaving Button's chances of a drive in {{F1|2009}} dependent on the team finding a buyer.<ref name="GuardianApr09">{{cite news|last=Hamilton|first=Maurice|title=Jenson Button: A driver reborn|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/apr/12/jenson-button-brawn-formula-one-interview|work=The Guardian|date=11 April 2009|access-date=21 April 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306174517/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/apr/12/jenson-button-brawn-formula-one-interview|archive-date=6 March 2016}}</ref>{{sfn|Henry|2009|p=142}}{{Sfn|Button|2010|pp=3–7}} He was informed of the news by Goodard the day before and Button changed his plans to discuss the withdrawal with colleagues and not the performance of his 2009 car.{{Sfn|Button|2010|pp=3–7}} He declined an offer to drive for [[Red Bull Racing]]'s junior team [[Scuderia Toro Rosso|Toro Rosso]] because they would not give him a podium-winning car and they wanted sponsorship funding.{{Sfn|Button|2017|p=207}}