Editing Jenson Button (section)

===Brackley-based teams (2003–2009)===
====BAR (2003–2005)====
===== 2003 =====
Button faced early hostility from new teammate Villeneuve, who said Button "should be in a boy band" and was not on speaking terms with him.{{sfn|Button|2017|pp=165–168}} Their relationship did not improve after the [[2003 Australian Grand Prix|first race]] in Australia: Villeneuve was due to pit, but stayed out an extra lap and made a pit stop when Button was due in, leaving Button waiting in the pit lane while Villeneuve's car was serviced. Villeneuve blamed it on "radio problems", but both Button and Richards hinted that they did not believe him. Button scored eight points in the first six races, including a fourth place at the {{F1 GP|2003|Austrian}}.{{Sfn|Domenjoz|2003|pp=51, 212, 218}} His relationship with Villeneuve improved thereafter because of his better performance and said the comments were caused by inter-team changes.{{Sfn|Button|2017|pp=165–168}} A high speed crash for Button during Saturday qualifying in [[2003 Monaco Grand Prix|Monaco]] briefly knocked him unconscious, and he was detained in hospital overnight. Despite the accident Button still wanted to race, but was withdrawn by his team on medical advice. He was cleared to race for the following Grand Prix in [[2003 Canadian Grand Prix|Montreal]].{{sfn|Button|2017|pp=170–173}} Button continued to outperform his teammate and this helped rebuild his previously faltering reputation.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/2705685.stm |title=Jenson Button |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=30 December 2010 |date=26 February 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040416123018/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/2705685.stm |archive-date=16 April 2004 |url-status=live }}</ref> Just before the final race in [[2003 Japanese Grand Prix|Japan]], Villeneuve lost his seat at BAR, so Button was partnered with [[Takuma Sato]]; he took his second fourth place of the season,{{Sfn|Domenjoz|2003|pp=51, 212, 218}} and finished ninth in the Drivers' Championship with 17 points.<ref name=MMagBio/>

[[File:Jenson button usgp 2004 ontrack.jpg|thumb|left|Button driving for [[British American Racing|BAR]] at the {{F1GP||2004 United States}}.]]

===== 2004 =====
The {{F1|2004}} season was the first in which Button was the more experienced driver in his team. He was ambitious for the season, saying he wanted to challenge consistently for points and podium finishes.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/formula-one/article/button-passes-up-spice-boy-trappings-in-pursuit-of-podium-708ccxkrs79|title=Button passes up spice boy trappings in pursuit of podium|date=29 January 2004|first=Kevin|last=Eason|work=[[The Times]]|access-date=30 December 2010|url-access=subscription|archive-date=15 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115201102/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/button-passes-up-spice-boy-trappings-in-pursuit-of-podium-708ccxkrs79|url-status=live}}</ref> He took his first podium in the second race of the year—third-place at the {{F1GP|2004|Malaysian}}. He followed it up two weeks later with another third-place in [[2004 Bahrain Grand Prix|Bahrain]]. In the next race at [[2004 San Marino Grand Prix|Imola]], he took his first pole position and finished second behind [[Michael Schumacher]].{{Sfn|Button|2017|pp=179–180}} He took 10 podiums in 18 races, and scored no points in three.<ref name="Results" /><ref name=BUTCurious/> Button came third in the Drivers' Championship and helped BAR to take second in the [[List of Formula One World Constructors' Champions|Constructors' Championship]].{{Sfn|Hill|2005|p=21}}

In August, Button became embroiled in a contract dispute. On 5 August, Button chose to leave BAR and signed a two-year contract to return to Williams.{{sfn|Henry|2005|pp=178–181}} He did so because BAR were not a works manufacturer team but Williams were in a partnership with BMW and felt they could help him win the Drivers' Championship.{{Sfn|Button|2017|pp=182–183}} This was surprising, as Button was enjoying his best season to date, while Williams had been struggling.{{sfn|Henry|2005|pp=178–181}} BAR insisted they had the right to exercise their option to retain Button. His management argued that the BAR option was not valid because it contained a clause allowing him to leave if BAR risked losing their Honda engines. They felt the new contract signed mid-year for Honda to supply engines to BAR was not definitive, and thus Button was free to move.<ref name="contract">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/3541518.stm|title=Will team switch undo Button?|date=6 August 2004|first=Andrew|last=Benson|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=31 December 2010|archive-date=31 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200531064305/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/3541518.stm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="BARcontract">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/3746818.stm |title=BAR win Button contract dispute |date=20 October 2004 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=31 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060331002411/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/3746818.stm |archive-date=31 March 2006 |url-status=live }}</ref> The dispute went to F1's Contract Recognition Board, who ruled in favour of BAR on 20 October, forcing Button to stay with the team.<ref name="BARcontract"/> Button separated from his manager John Byfield as a result, saying he had been badly advised.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/button-changes-manager-after-williams-affair-15086.html|title=Button changes manager after Williams affair|first=Alastair|last=Moffitt|work=The Independent|date=1 January 2005|access-date=2 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502104819/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/button-changes-manager-after-williams-affair-15086.html|archive-date=2 May 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> He asked his friend Richard Goodard to manage him,{{Sfn|Button|2017|pp=182–183}} and employed a personal assistant in restructuring his organisation.<ref name=F1RMagJul09>{{cite journal|last=Allen|first=James|author-link=James Allen (journalist)|title=The Renaissance of Jenson Button|url=http://porschecarshistory.com/wp-content/old/lib/magazines/racing/2009/07.2009.pdf|journal=F1 Racing|date=July 2009|access-date=4 May 2020|pages=43–47|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200504205215/http://porschecarshistory.com/wp-content/old/lib/magazines/racing/2009/07.2009.pdf|archive-date=4 May 2020|url-status=live|issn=1361-4487}}</ref>

===== 2005 =====
[[File:Jenson Button 2005 Canada 2.jpg|thumb|right|Button at the {{F1GP||2005 Canadian}}, where he took [[pole position]].]]
Despite the feud, Button insisted he had BAR's backing,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/4178779.stm |title=Button retains BAR team backing |date=16 January 2005 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=2 January 2011 |archive-date=31 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200531064307/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/4178779.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> and was optimistic for the {{F1|2005}} season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2005/1/2540.html|title=BAR drivers target first win with 007|date=16 January 2005|publisher=formula1.com|access-date=2 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006163236/http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2005/1/2540.html|archive-date=6 October 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> He was unable to deal with regulation changes concerning aerodynamics and his car lacked pace as a result.<ref name=DTSep05>{{cite news|last=Garside|first=Kevin|title=Button wins his freedom for £18m|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/kevingarside/2365562/Button-wins-his-freedom-for-18m.html|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=20 September 2005|access-date=14 August 2020|archive-date=15 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115201044/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/kevingarside/2365562/Button-wins-his-freedom-for-18m.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Button was disqualified from third place at the {{F1 GP|2005|San Marino}} after race scrutineers found his car had a second fuel tank inside the main one, that when drained, made his car underweight. The FIA International Court of Appeal banned Button and his team from the next two races as a result. Following his return, he took the second pole position of his career in [[2005 Canadian Grand Prix|Montreal]], but crashed out after an error while running third.{{sfn|Henry|2009|pp=117–119, 174}} After the {{F1GP|2005|United States}}, Button scored in all of the remaining races with two third-place finishes in [[2005 German Grand Prix|Germany]] and [[2005 Belgian Grand Prix|Belgium]] to end the season in ninth place on 37 points.<ref name=MMagBio/>

For the second consecutive year, Button had contract disputes involving BAR and Williams. Button had signed a pre-contract to drive for Williams in {{F1|2006}}, but he now believed his prospects of achieving his maiden Grand Prix victory would be better at BAR, and that his Williams contract was not binding.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/4725623.stm |title=I'm not tied to Williams&nbsp;– Button |date=28 July 2005 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=2 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060826214953/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/4725623.stm |archive-date=26 August 2006 |url-status=live }}</ref> Frank Williams insisted the contract was fully binding, and that there would be "absolutely no turning back"; his team required Button to fulfill some contractual obligations with sponsors.{{efn|Button's contract with Williams stipulated he had to score less than 75 per cent of points accumulated by the leader of the Drivers' Championship before the {{F1GP|2005|Turkish}} to join the team for 2006.<ref>{{cite web|last=Dodgins|first=Tony|title=Button Undone|url=https://www.autosport.com/motorsport/feature/218/button-undone|work=Autosport|date=3 August 2005|access-date=14 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200514160841/https://www.autosport.com/motorsport/feature/218/button-undone|archive-date=14 May 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>}}<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/4727277.stm|title=Williams defiant in Button tussle|date=29 July 2005|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=2 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060223101941/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/4727277.stm|archive-date=23 February 2006|url-status=live}}</ref> After several weeks of talks, Williams agreed to release Button in exchange for an estimated £18&nbsp;million in compensation.<ref name=DTSep05/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/button-gets-his-wish-as-williams-end-pursuit-kr3kz9tt0z6|title=Button gets his wish as Williams end pursuit|date=20 September 2005|work=[[The Times]]|first=Kevin|last=Eason|access-date=2 January 2011|url-access=subscription|archive-date=15 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115201057/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/button-gets-his-wish-as-williams-end-pursuit-kr3kz9tt0z6|url-status=live}}</ref>

====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}}

====Brawn GP (2009)====
Brawn purchased the Honda team for a nominal fee and renamed it as [[Brawn GP]] in early March 2009. Button signed a contract to drive for the team in {{f1|2009}}, and took a pay cut as part of the agreement. Although he was installed by bookmakers as a 100–1 outsider for the championship, Button's [[Brawn BGP 001]] car was quick and reliable in pre-season testing in Europe due to an efficient aerodynamic package, a powerful [[Mercedes-Benz in Formula One|Mercedes-Benz]] V8 engine and grippy [[slick tyres]]. The car's seat was lowered to make him comfortable.{{sfn|Button|2010|pp=17–26}}

[[File:Jenson Button 2009 Turkey 2.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Brawn BGP 001]] car that Button drove to win the {{F1|2009}} championship]]

Button won six of the first seven races with four pole positions,<ref name=BRDCWinter09/> having benefited from a double diffuser design making him and the Toyota and Williams teams faster than others.{{efn|Button matched the achievement set by former world champions [[Alberto Ascari]], [[Juan Manuel Fangio]], [[Jim Clark]] and Schumacher.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jenson Button hails 'monster of a car' after winning sixth race this season|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/jun/08/jenson-button-turkish-grand-prix-victory-formula-one|work=The Guardian|date=8 June 2009|access-date=21 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090612021256/http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/jun/08/jenson-button-turkish-grand-prix-victory-formula-one|archive-date=12 June 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}{{sfn|Button|2010|p=30}}{{sfn|Jones|2010|pp=118–119}}  Once the major teams had introduced their own reconfigured diffusers Button's dominance ended, averaging sixth position in the following ten races and scoring 35 points after accumulating 61 in the first seven.<ref name=BRDCWinter09>{{cite journal|last=Constanduros|first=Bob|title=Push the Button|url=http://www.brdc.co.uk/assets/Volume_30_No_476952.pdf|journal=BRDC Bulletin|volume=30|issue=4|pages=22–23|date=Winter 2009|access-date=7 May 2020|archive-date=15 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115201056/http://www.brdc.co.uk/assets/Volume_30_No_476952.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> This was due to the team spending 10 per cent of its allocated £7&nbsp;million budget on developing the car and Button's smooth driving style preventing him from generating heat into its tyres in cold weather.{{Sfn|Button|2017|pp=229–231}} At the {{F1 GP|2009|Brazilian}}, Button was hampered in qualifying by a poor choice of tyres in the wet weather and could achieve 14th position. His championship campaign was boosted by Vettel qualifying 16th, but team-mate and closest rival Barrichello qualified on pole. In the race, Button finished fifth, taking enough points to secure the championship with one round remaining.{{efn|With 169 starts, Button made the second-highest number of race starts before becoming World Champion. Only [[Nigel Mansell]] (with 176 starts) had competed in more races than Button before winning the World Championship.<ref>{{cite magazine | date = 22 October 2009 | title = Contents: 169 |magazine= Autosport | page = 3 | volume = 198 | issue = 4 }}</ref>}}{{sfn|Jones|2010|pp=118–119}} At the final race of the season, the {{F1GP|2009|Abu Dhabi}}, Button qualified behind Barrichello again, but finished on the podium in third position.{{sfn|Button|2010|pp=290–299}}
[[File:Jenson Button 2009 Italy 2.jpg|thumb|Button at the [[2009 Italian Grand Prix]]]]
In the off-season, Brawn and team principal [[Nick Fry]] informed Button they wanted him to sign an extension to his contract and be paired with [[Nico Rosberg]]. Button asked for a commitment to car development for 2010 and a close to a repeat performance of the 2009 season. Brawn and Fry said [[Mercedes-Benz in Formula One|Mercedes]] would buy-out Brawn GP without locating potential sponsors, which Button found unappealing and told his manager Richard Goodard he desired a new challenge.{{Sfn|Button|2017|pp=249–251}}