Jenson Button has shed light on a prevalent misunderstanding regarding his iconic Brawn F1 car, which famously took him to the pinnacle of motorsport by clinching the Drivers’ Championship title. While it’s true that the Brawn BGP 001 was the vehicle that helped him achieve this remarkable feat, Button asserts that it wasn’t the finest car he ever drove in Formula 1; that honor goes to his 2011 McLaren.
Button's 2011 McLaren MP4-26 stands out in his memory as the best machine he handled during his racing career. He acknowledges the significance of the Brawn car due to its remarkable backstory and the championship victory, but he also highlights other models, such as the Honda 006 and the Williams FW22, for their unique qualities.
Reflecting on his time with McLaren, Button stated, "The best car for me was the 2011 McLaren [MP4-26]. I would say it was the best car I ever drove in F1." This particular car enabled him to secure four Grand Prix victories, including a memorable win in Canada, which remains the longest race in F1 history. During that season, however, he finished second in the championship, overshadowed by the dominance of Sebastian Vettel.
Many fans mistakenly believe that the Brawn GP car was Button's pinnacle of performance. He clarifies, "And then for the feel, I would say probably the 2004 BAR-Honda [006]. We had a flexi rear wing and it was such a nice car to drive [with the] V10. It wasn’t as quick as the Ferrari, but it was just really nice to drive. I got 10 podiums. Didn’t win a race."
When discussing the Brawn BGP 001, he humorously pointed out the common assumption that it must have been the best car he ever drove. He explained, "But we went from the regulations with more downforce in 2008 to then less downforce in 2009. So [the Brawn] was better than the other cars, but it wasn’t that quick; there were still weaknesses of the car. But the memories from that car were amazing."
Button also reminisced about his very first F1 car, the Williams FW22, calling it special for its exceptional drivability. "It did nothing wrong. It was just so nice to drive, like a big go-kart. And I actually got to drive that car last year at Silverstone, which was great."
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