Buoyant Button in top gear for Silverstone

JENSON BUTTON has vowed to put on a show for his fans next month as he is now guaranteed to be world championship leader going into the British Grand Prix.

No matter what unfolds at the next race in Turkey in a fortnight, Button’s blistering start to the season, with five wins from six grands prix, ensures he cannot be caught before Silverstone on June 21.

That is a source of great pride for Button, who on Sunday produced a perfect drive around Monaco to open up a 16-point lead at the top of the standings over Brawn GP team-mate Rubens Barrichello.

“That’s a great feeling,” said Button.

“I always love the British Grand Prix, which is obviously my proper home grand prix. Even when you’re not competitive and things are going tough, you still get a lot of support there, being British, which is great.

“But going there having won five races (potentially six if he also wins in Turkey) will be a nice feeling. Hopefully there will be lots of Brawn caps out there. I think they’ve only just gone on sale. It would be nice to see a couple.

“But it’s a special race, whether you’re in a good car or a not-so-good car.

“But turning up there leading the championship, yeah, it’s going to be nice, and hopefully I’ll put on a good show in front of the home crowd.

“Rubens is going to be tough to beat there. He’s beaten me every year he’s been my team-mate (all three years), but I’ll give it a good go.”

In fact, it will be a British team, driver and owner heading into the British Grand Prix leading both championships as Ross Brawn’s marque have been inspirational since he took over following the demise of Honda.

That fact took Brawn by surprise when it was put to him as he said: “I hadn’t thought of that. But we seem to have built up a tremendous group of fans, even in the short time we have been together. So we are really looking forward to seeing them all at Silverstone and hopefully having a special time.”

With his victory in Monaco, Button joined an all-star cast of drivers to have won five of the first six races after Alberto Ascari, Juan Manuel Fangio, Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, Nigel Mansell and Michael Schumacher.

It was a feat Schumacher achieved three times, and on each occasion Brawn was the brains behind such an accomplishment.

Although reluctant to compare the two, Brawn’s appreciation for Button’s attributes behind the wheel is growing immeasurably.

“There was a point in the race where Jenson was coming up to a group that were racing each other,” reflected Brawn.

“Almost simultaneously he came on the radio and said ‘Look guys, I don’t want to get involved in what’s going on ahead. I’m going to ease back a bit’.

“So he’s gaining in that mental capacity to do things, as well as drive the car.

“For Jenson, you have to remember Rubens is also a tremendous reference. Rubens had his occasions when he beat Michael, and Michael was a pretty strong reference.

“So the fact Jenson has won these races with Rubens in the team sets the standard.

“It’s early days, but I’m obviously delighted with both drivers’ performance. But Jenson is doing exceptionally well.”

On the evidence of what we have seen so far, it should yield the world title, not that Button will be drawn into that.

“I’m taking it as it comes. Nothing’s changed,” insisted Button.