Jenson Button
Newly crowned Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button made a trip to Brawn GP’s factory in Brackley to say thank you.
“I’m really here today to say a massive well done and thank you to everyone at the team,” Button said. “We’ve worked so hard for these achievements for so many years.
“Some of us were here from the beginning back in 1998 and I arrived halfway through our journey in 2003 but everyone has put so much work in. I know that there have been a lot of very difficult times and over the winter there were times when we didn’t think that we would be here at all.
“It’s very sad that not everyone can be here who worked on this fantastic car. But the team had to become smaller to continue and together we produced a car that has been exceptional this season.”
Button spoke of the emotional extremes he has experienced over the past months.
“To be able to achieve the Constructors’ and the Drivers’ Championships in our first year, especially after such a difficult winter, is an amazing achievement,” he added. “It’s been a rollercoaster of emotions.
“The first few races were magnificent. It looked like it was a walk in the park but it really wasn’t. Then we had some difficult races, especially myself but also as a team where we struggled. But we fought back hard and when we needed to improve the car, you guys did it.
“Rubens [Barrichello] gave us two more wins in Valencia and Monza at an important time to boost our morale and prove just how quick the car was. We have a great leader, a fantastic leader, in Ross. The Big Bear can’t be here today but I know that when he gets back, he’ll be celebrating with you.”
Button secured the World Championship last Sunday at the Brazilian Grand Prix with 5th place finish. The Formula 1 season concludes on November 1st with the Grand Prix of United Arab Emirates.
Source: PlanetF1.com
Ross Brawn, the mastermind behind Michal Schumacher’s seven Championships, is excited about Schumi’s return as long as it doesn’t disrupt Brawn GP’s Jenson Button Championship in 2009. Brawn has gotten to know Schumacher well over the years, and was not surprised when the he accepted the opportunity to jump back in a Ferrari after his retirement in 2006.
The Brawn GP debut in Melbourne, Australia couldn’t have been any better. The team finished the race taking the top two spots with Rubens Barrichello finishing 2nd and Jenson Button winning the race from pole. There is still a great deal of controversy regarding the diffusers used by the Brawn GP, Williams and Toyota teams. Ferrari, Red Bull and Renault protested the use of the diffusers stating they were illegal. The race stewards dismissed these claims and decided the diffusers were acceptable according to FIA regulation. It is believed that the protesting teams will follow up with their previous complaint claiming that while the diffusers are technically legal according to the regulations, they violate the “spirit” of the rule.
