Button seeks Silverstone points boost

It is perhaps indicative of Jenson Button’s Formula One career that on reflection, his best British Grand Prix was his first, now eight years ago.

Aged just 20, the race was only Button’s fourth in the sport after he had won a ’shoot-out’ at the end of the previous year to clinch a drive with Williams.

As the era of Nigel Mansell and Damon Hill had gone, British fans were looking for a new hero they could relate to as at that time David Coulthard did not quite fit the iconic mould.

Then along came Button, and at Silverstone on a chilly April day in 2000, he warmed and wowed the crowd in equal measure by finishing a remarkable fifth.

Although Coulthard, then with McLaren, took the chequered flag for a second successive year, Button certainly grabbed a fair degree of the limelight that day.

Since then it would be fair to suggest, for one reason or another, Button has not quite delivered given the rich promise shown on that occasion.

There have been numerous highs and lows, the latter of which he is currently experiencing again for a Honda team struggling to fight their way into the midfield pack.

No wonder it is with such relish, and a burning smile that Button looks back on his 2000 British Grand Prix debut so fondly.

“It was spectacular, a great weekend,” enthused Button.

“I remember overtaking Michael (Schumacher) around the outside of turn one at one point, which was quite fun!

“Unfortunately, towards the end of the race I picked up a mis-fire and the engine was only running on nine cylinders, and yet I still came home fifth.

“With DC winning, the atmosphere was pretty electric, so that is still my best British Grand Prix.

“There was also 2005 as I was on the front row of the grid. Kimi (Raikkonen) had a problem and had to start further back, so I took up second, even though I had qualified third.

“Even though I didn’t get a podium that day (he was fifth), to be on the front row was a great feeling, seeing the crowd cheering as I came up to the start line.”

With a downhearted tone in his voice, he then added: “I’ve to wait a little bit longer to achieve that (a podium).”

That is no surprise given the relative uncompetitiveness at times of this year’s Honda, which is still a drastic improvement on last season’s wretched model.

Button is naturally hoping for a degree of sympathy from the fans, hoping they can appreciate his circumstances as Honda look for a solution to their travails.

“I’m sure they do understand,” assessed Button.

“For sure last year was tough, and this year has been frustrating more than anything else, but I’m in a happy place, a good place at the moment.

“Hopefully the fans aren’t too frustrated because I feel pretty happy with the situation.”

The reason being is that Button is “looking further down the line” and a drastic change in the regulations which Honda fervently hope will see them become a challenger, rather than an also-ran.

“You always want to do well in your home grand prix, and we might get some points, which will be a big bonus,” remarked Button.

“But I think I’m going to have to leave it to Lewis (Hamilton) to fight for the victory!

“So yeah, we have to look further ahead, although we also need to think about now and look at where I and the team can improve.

“We’re still not going to give up. It’s still important to keep pushing now.

“There’s no use just sitting back and waiting for next year. I’m going to look at things that are happening at this moment in time.”

And so then to the British Grand Prix, a Silverstone circuit that is loved by the drivers – if not by F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone in its present form – and to a passionate home crowd.

“There’s always a great atmosphere there, so it’s always a very special event for all the British drivers,” added Button.

“I certainly feel I’ve a better chance of scoring a point this year compared to last year, in fact the last two years there have been pretty tough.

“I had a problem with the engine in 2006, and then last year we basically just weren’t quick enough, so this year I just want to get some points at my home grand prix.”