Biography
name: Jenson Button
born: January 19, 1980 in Somerset, England
family: father, John
sport: Formula One Driver, #10 BMW-Williams
comments: Jenson Button is Britains youngest F1 driver, at just 20 years old. Driving a 800hp, 1100lb rocket of a race car is very impressive for a 20 year old. Last year he was in F3 and the year before in Formula Ford, so his rise to F1 had been nothing short of sensational. He made his debut in Austrailia of 2000. On his first grand prix, he stormed through the field, and ran as high as an impressive 7th before his BMW engine blew up. In only his second Grand Prix he finished 6th in the Williams-BMW to pick up his first formula one point. At his home grand prix in Britian he finished 5th. His best finish to date is a 4th at the 2000 German Grand Prix, in the rain. He is currently negotiating his contract at Williams for next season. He will, nevertheless, be a unsettling force to the other F1 regulars.
fun facts:
- Jenson attended Vallis First school from the age of 5
- Jenson got his first kart for Christmas from his Dad
- At 8 years old he made his Karting Debut
- He won the British Cadet Super Prix in 1989 and went on to win the British Cadet Championship in 1990 at the aged of 10
- At 14 he was racing in Europe in the European Karting Championships and the Intercontinental Championship
- When he was 17, Jenson became the youngest ever European Formula A champion and also wins the Ayrton Senna Memorial Cup in Suzuka
- In 1998, he raced formula Fords, impressed many by winning the championship and won the prestegious McLaren/Autosport Young Driver of the Year Award
- In 1999 he raced in the British Formula 3 championship wining 3 races and coming 3rd in the championship
- When Alex Zanardi had a bad year in formula one, he was signed to replace him at the Williams BMW team for the 2000 season
- Jenson takes his driving test and fails for 'going for a gap that wasn't there'! He passes second time around.
