Brawn GP Racing Team

2007

Button driving for Honda at the 2007 British Grand Prix.

In 2007, Button again competed with the Honda Racing F1 team alongside Rubens Barrichello. He was unable to take part in winter testing, prior to the 2007 season because of two hairline fractures to his ribs, sustained in a karting incident in late 2006. ^[13] Former British world champion Damon Hill aired doubts over Button's hopes to be a championship contender at Honda over the coming season, saying, "if he is serious... he has to get himself in a car that is a championship contender."^[14] Alan Henry writing in The Guardian 2007 F1 season guide, predicted: "Button will win a couple more races but is not a title contender."^[15] He was proved to be wrong as the Honda car proved to be aerodynamically poor.

At the first race of the season in Australia, Button only managed to qualify 14th after handling problems. The race was no better as he endured considerable understeer throughout, was given a drive-through penalty for speeding in the pit lane and finished 15th. The next two races in Malaysia and Bahrain were just as unsuccessful, Button finishing 12th behind team-mate Rubens Barrichello in Malaysia, and not even completing a lap in Bahrain after colliding with Red Bull Racing driver David Coulthard at the first corner. At the French Grand Prix Button finished eighth, earning his and Honda's first point of 2007.

Following the British Grand Prix, it was announced that Button would remain with Honda for 2008.^[16]

As Button's place as the pre-eminent British driver in F1 was taken by Lewis Hamilton, former champion Nigel Mansell criticised Button, saying: "Jenson should have won more races, he has under-performed and that is down to him. He had the opportunity and he didn’t take it - there won’t be any more." Honda team boss Nick Fry defended his driver saying: "I would refute everything Nigel has said, and particularly I think his comments about Jenson’s reputation for partying are about five years out of date. People forget that Jenson made his F1 debut at the age of 20 - but he’s now 27. I’ve worked with him now for five years, and his increasing maturing and the way he changed his lifestyle is extremely noticeable." ^[17]

Button driving for Honda at the 2008 Chinese Grand Prix.

Button made no secret of his frustration regarding his current situation. He described his 2007 season as "a total disaster", adding "I'm not going to hang around finishing 14th"^[18]. He also described his car as "a complete dog". ^[18] Button did, however, record several impressive outings towards the end of the season, especially when rain was prominent.

Jenson Button stayed with Honda for 2008^[16] and continued to be partnered by Rubens Barrichello. He retired at the Australian Grand Prix on the first lap, and finished 10th at Malaysia. In Bahrain he retired after running over David Coulthard's wing. He scored his first and only points at the Spanish Grand Prix with 6th place. He then had three 11th place finishes in a row at Turkey, Monaco, and Canada. He was the only driver to retire at the French Grand Prix, and failed to finish the British Grand Prix as well.

On 5 December 2008 Honda announced that they were quitting F1, due to the global economic crisis. This left Button's chances of a drive in 2009 dependent on the team finding a buyer.^[19]

Button leading the 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix.

On 5 March 2009, it was announced that the former Honda team would become Brawn GP, following a buy-out by Ross Brawn, the Team Principal of Honda Racing. Button and Barrichello were confirmed as the team's drivers for the 2009 season.^[20] Button took pole position in the 2009 Australian Grand Prix, his first race for the team, with Barrichello in second place, and led the race from start to finish to win the race ahead of his team-mate—the first time a team scored a 1-2 finish on their debut since 1954.^[21] One week later, he made it two poles and two wins in a row at the Malaysian Grand Prix. The race was stopped due to heavy rain with less than 75% completed, and half points were awarded.^[22] In this race Button scored his first hat trick (pole, win and fastest lap). At the 2009 Chinese Grand Prix Button finished third behind Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber. Button won the 4th race of the season, the 2009 Bahrain Grand Prix, finishing ahead of Sebastian Vettel and Jarno Trulli, after starting 4th on the grid.