Year-end Recaps

First off from Formula One's official site, a 2006 race by race recap, part 5 featuring the the Hungarian, Turkish and Italian Grands Prix. I'd never noticed Nick Fry's expression before (he's the one behind Jenson in the pictures). Both of them look kinda funny... hahaha. That must've been such a fun feeling having all that elation surging through your body though... hence the funny faces... hahaha. :)

Here's a short excerpt:

As the title rivals struggled, the Hungaroring meeting belonged to Honda’s Jenson Button, who came from 14th on the grid to score his maiden Formula One win. The changeable weather played a huge part in the race, but Button’s victory was totally deserved, the Briton keeping his cool in tricky conditions to finally triumph on his 113th attempt.

Also, from ITV.com, an in-depth discussion of Honda's first full season at the helm, featuring all the ups and downs of 2006. The article's title, Finishing with a Flourish" sums it up quite well though. ;)

Here's an excerpt:

The highlight, of course, was Jenson Button’s long-overdue maiden grand prix victory in Hungary, Honda’s first as a constructor since the 1960s.

Although that watershed signalled that the team had shrugged off its mid-season blues, it was above all a supreme personal achievement from Button.

In tricky wet-but-drying weather conditions that turned the race into a lottery, Jenson’s delicacy of touch came to the fore and he thoroughly earned his place on the top step of the podium.

At a stroke, the 26-year-old from Frome silenced those increasingly prevalent voices that doubted he would ever shake off his ‘nearly man’ status.

Lastly, here's a feature, again by ITV.com, of their picks for pictures of the year. Jenson Button's in there of course. :P

Jenson gets some love from Big Fry

Some nice words from his boss, quoted from BBC Sport:

Button in F1 elite, says boss Fry

Honda boss Nick Fry believes Jenson Button has now joined the ranks of Formula One's top drivers.

The Briton won his first Grand Prix in Hungary last August, and Fry is expecting more success next season.

"I believe that Jenson is up there with both Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen in the top three," he said.

"There are others that will do well from time to time, but in terms of consistently high performance, he's in the top three."

It's nice to see Nick boosting Jense's confidence even more.

Jenson, you're definitely tops to us fans. Make us proud! :)

Jenson's keeping it real for 2007

Looks like Jense is keeping it real this time around. Here's an exerpt from Autosport.com:

Jenson Button is trying hard to keep a lid on expectations for 2007, after Honda Racing failed to live up to the high target they had set themselves for this season.

Button and Honda had gone into 2006 predicting that they would be challenging for wins at every event.

Although that did not happen, the team did recover from a poor start to the campaign to post their maiden victory in Hungary, while Button was the highest points scorer in the final segment of the championship.

The lessons of last year, when the failure to deliver early in the season left the team facing a barrage of questions from the media, have been learned - and Button is keen not to hype things up too much this time around.

I think it's great that Jenson and his team aren't putting too much pressure on themselves like they did last year. They've got reasonably better chances at a more wide-open 2007, and with less pressure on themselves, they (and us fans) should be able to enjoy success that comes their way to start the season.

Awards galore for Jenson

In what fans like myself are hoping to be a sign of things to come, Jenson Button is winning a lot of stuff these days. Despite being unable to participate in testing while nursing a rib injury, Jenson has surely been kept busy collecting awards.


After winning F1 Racing magazine's "drive of the year" award last week, Jenson was presented with the British Competition Driver of the Year award at the prestigious Autosport Awards yesterday.

Commenting on the award, Jenson thanked the fans who had voted for him: “Having the support behind you makes the big difference. I have had a lot of support, even in the bad years, but to get the win this year was spectacular.”

Not long after that, Jense was likewise honoured at the British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC) Annual Awards with the very prestigious Graham Hill Trophy.

The Graham Hill Trophy is awarded for the ‘Most Meritorious Performance by a British Driver in Single-Seater Racing’ and was given to Jenson in recognition of his performance at the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix.

“It’s been an exciting couple of weeks for me,” said the British star. “It’s great to know that there’s so much support out there and to get an award from the BRDC is an enormous privilege.”

That's just great stuff, isn't it? Jenson's getting 'round to winning more and more these days. Jense had been coming under heavy criticism for being unable to win a GP prior to his Hungaroring win, so the Autosport Award must've been really sweet for him, as he finally gets some love from those critics. If memory serves me right, Jense also won an award from BRDC in 2004, but I think this marks the first time that he's picked up the Graham Hill trophy. Hey, maybe he can do more of a Graham Hill and win the 2007 WDC. Hahahaha. Here's to hoping and wishing and praying he does, aye?

You can read more by clicking on the links above, or dropping by the Jenson Button forum.

Jenson honoured by readers of F1 Racing.

Jenson wins 'Drive of the Year' for his fantastic breakthrough win at the 2006 Hungarian GP! Good on you Jense!


Here's an exerpt from the official HondaF1 press release:

Honda Racing F1 Team driver Jenson Button and 2006 Third Driver Anthony Davidson have been honoured by the readers of F1 Racing, the world’s best-selling grand prix magazine, in its 2006 Man of the Year Awards.

Jenson was praised as having made the ‘Drive of the Year’ with his breakthrough win from 14th on the grid at the Hungarian Grand Prix, while Anthony was recognised as Friday Driver of the Year. Nearly 50,000 of the magazine’s millions of readers worldwide registered their votes in this year’s awards - the biggest turn-out ever.

Of course, you can always read more at HondaF1's official site. :)

Reminiscing: the 2006 Hungarian GP

It's fun reading other people's commentaries and recollections of events. I think getting different perspectives helps enrich one's own experience - it adds to the "completeness", giving it an added sense of clarity. Especially to those fondly remembered. That said, childofneptune.blogspot.com has a nice, play by play account of the Hungarian GP.

Me, I remember being all giddy and praying so hard that Jenson would just finish safely. I was all nervous watching Jense inching closer and closer to the chequered flag, yet thoroughly excited at the same time. It was such a big relief when he finally did, and made me believe even more in Jenson's talent and ability to win. I was like "YAY YAY YAY!" when he finally climbed that top step on the podium. Hahahaha.

What are your memories of Jenson's first win?