Formula 1
Button working to build McLaren around him
Global Motorsport Media
Published: Oct 15, 2011, 7:13 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Jenson Button's push to prominence at McLaren has been a deliberate attempt to build the famous team around him.
Jenson Button, McLaren Mercedes
Photo by: xpb.cc
Many commentators viewed the 2009 world champion's arrival last year to be the highly rated Lewis Hamilton's new teammate as akin to walking into "the lion's den".
But less than two seasons later, Button is poised to beat the beleaguered Hamilton in the drivers' standings and has signed a new multiple year contract.
The 31-year-old has also driven for Williams, Renault and Honda/Brawn, but it is his tenure at McLaren that is arguably attracting the highest plaudits.
Asked what the secret is, Button revealed: "It's a lesson I learned many years ago.
"If you look back at F1 there are certain drivers that would always try and build a team around them and it helped them," he is quoted by The Sun.
"Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost did that, but I suppose Michael Schumacher was the first one of our generation to really do that.
It's a lesson I learned many years ago
Jenson Button
"It was not something I thought about myself when I was younger. But it's one thing I remember about David Richards when he was team principal at BAR.
"He said 'Jenson, you have very good speed, but other drivers out there do a much better job of surrounding themselves with the right people and really working at it with the team'. That definitely did stick with me," he explained.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Lotus must catch established teams admits Gascoyne
Next article Rosberg overcame fitness weakness reveals Brawn
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Lewis Hamilton
F1 Brazil GP: Friday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
14 h
F1 Brazil GP: Friday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
Lewis Hamilton backs claims Charles Leclerc races him harder than F1 rivals
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
16 h
Lewis Hamilton backs claims Charles Leclerc races him harder than F1 rivals
More from
Mercedes
Max Verstappen jokes about key difference with Kimi Antonelli at 20: “He speaks Italian!”
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
23 h
Max Verstappen jokes about key difference with Kimi Antonelli at 20: “He speaks Italian!”
Kimi Antonelli almost had to retire in Mexico due to an oil leak
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
Kimi Antonelli almost had to retire in Mexico due to an oil leak
Latest news
Who is racing in MotoGP's Qatar GP and who is absent?
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
36 min
Who is racing in MotoGP's Qatar GP and who is absent?
How F1’s rules got to be so complex
Formula 1
How F1’s rules got to be so complex
Kimi Antonelli: “My 2027 preparation starts now” after F1 title triumph
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 h
Kimi Antonelli: “My 2027 preparation starts now” after F1 title triumph
Alan Permane signs new Racing Bulls F1 deal
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 h
Alan Permane signs new Racing Bulls F1 deal
Feature
Discover prime content
How F1’s rules got to be so complex
Formula 1
By Pat Symonds
How F1’s rules got to be so complex
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1960s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1960s
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe