The final thank you goes, of course, to the sensational future Mrs Button. Brittny, thank you, as always, for your unwavering love, support and understanding with this project, and with everything. Hendrix and I are so lucky to have you, I love you very much.
INDEX
(Page numbers in bold refer to significant subject mentions)
Abu Dhabi 9, 115, 218, 282, 299
accidents, see crashes
adrenalin rush 59, 117, 121, 122, 197, 220, 245
Aero Racing 58
aerodynamics 45, 56, 123, 127–31, 127–31 passim, 162–3, 171–2, 171–5, 173, 175, 176, 176–7, 177, 215, 237, 248, 253, 306, 326
airlines 87–8
Albert, Rince of Monaco 202, 216
alcohol, see drinking alcohol
Aleshin, Mikhail 262, 272
Alonso, Fernando 10, 27, 33, 81, 97–8, 138, 170, 184, 218, 227–8, 273–4, 288–90, 298
Always Be Learning’ philosophy 30, 327
Amber Lounge 67, 202, 296
Arai Helmet 213
architect’s window 280
Armco barriers 308
arrogance, defined 56–7
attitude 44–7
Austin Grand Prix 119, 120, 126, 126, 293, 299
Australian Grand Prix 72, 78, 87, 91, 132, 146, 294, 295
Austrian Grand Prix 146
autocross 4
Autodromo Nazionale Monza 191, 231, 297
automatic gearboxes 109
bad-PR anecdote 87
Bahrain Grand Prix 144–5, 287
Baja 1000 149–55
BAR-Honda 98, 115, 198, 205
Barcelona circuit, see Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
Barrichello, Rubens 42, 81, 85, 105, 137–8, 185, 210–11, 216, 290
BATAK wall 235, 267
Bathurst (Mount Panorama) circuit 78
Beckham, David 208
Belgium 250
Bell Helmets 212, 213
Benetton Formula Ltd 28, 66, 101, 163, 166, 173, 249–50, 281, 282
Bianchi, Jules 258
BMW 77, 96
bodily functions 229
body fat 238, 243
bonus payments 70, 206
booze-ups, see drinking alcohol
Bottas, Valtteri 103, 160, 214, 322
Boullier, Eric 10–11
boxing 32
BR Engineering 265
braking 4, 17–18, 29, 97, 107–8, 109–14
points310
under- 237, 250–1, 258, 308
zones 110–11, 293
Brawn Racing 16, 70, 81, 105, 140, 160, 174, 185, 205, 213, 281, 290
creation of 173
first GP one–two 280
JB joins 200
JB leaves 78
Rubens’ accident 210–11
Brawn, Ross 173, 200, 280
Brazilian Grand Prix 28, 87, 190, 216, 218, 272, 273, 290
breakfast 240, 242–3
breathing, G-force affects 221–2
Brenthel, Jonathan 150, 155
Brenthel, Jordan 150, 151–3, 155
Briatore, Flavio 66, 281, 282
Bridgestone 112, 179, 180, 183
British American Racing (BAR) 98, 115 (see also BAR-Honda)
British Grand Prix 36–7, 65, 146, 196, 271, 283, 298
2009 185–6
2018 320–3
Brownlee, Alistair 244
Brownlee, Jonathan 244
Brunt, Roger 4
Buncombe, Chrissy 16, 44, 151, 153, 265–6
40th birthday 149
Le Mans win 261
burnouts 100
Button, Hendrix Jonathan (son) 26, 328–9
Button, Jenson:
as ambassador 37, 78
becomes racing driver 26, 69–70
best-ever laps 16
best mate, see Buncombe, Chrissy
boats owned by 83–5
Brittny meets 10
Californian driving lessons 3–5, 10
childhood 26, 252
‘comeback’ 9–12, 13–22, 25
F1, first enters 28, 29, 64
F1, ‘last’ race 9
F1, as spectator 25
F3, as driver 155, 163, 212
F4, as driver 155, 212
fails first driving test 4
father–son bond 192
fatherhood 26, 328–9
father’s death 10
first go-kart 26
first pole position of 98, 99
future plans 57–8
joins McLaren 78
in LA, see Los Angeles (LA)
leaves karting 29
love of Babybels 80, 81, 82
manager, see Goddard, Richard
‘off the pace’ 153, 207–8
other sports taken up by 32, 240
other types of vehicles 53–4
parents split 26
retirement 5, 9–10, 25, 47
second-to-last GP 28, 218
Suzuka win 138
as TV commentator, see Sky
worst accident 16
Button, John (father) 26, 41, 43, 54, 191, 295, 329
death of 10
father–son bond 192
karting name 58
Button’s buttons 245–6, 266
caffeine 244–5, 267
Californian driving licence 3–4, 10
Californian Highway Patrol 4
calories 240, 241
camber 112, 175, 183–4, 263
Canadian Grand Prix 76, 125, 189, 294–5
car knowledge 249–54, 304–5
car museums 200–1
carbohydrates 241–3, 244
carbon monocoque 55, 58
Carry On Formula One Driver 96
Cassidy, Nick 194
caster angle 175
Catch-22 situations 163
celebrations 9, 189–202
champagne spraying 194–8
chicanes 126, 258
Chinese Grand Prix 221–2
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya 103, 105, 137, 140, 160, 292
Circuit de la Sarthe, see Le Mans 24-Hour Race
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps 28, 144, 146, 177, 193, 283, 294, 298
circuits 307–13 (see also by name)
Cirque du Soleil 295
claustrophobia 222, 223
‘clutch bite point find’ 100
clutch control 102
competitiveness 28, 32, 45, 58, 66, 173, 196, 260, 272, 318
Constructor’s Championship 70, 174, 191, 206
contracts 70, 77, 166, 198, 200, 278, 279, 285
Cookie Monster anecdote 76
corners 308–9
Coulthard, David 66, 68, 117–18
crash helmets 191, 200, 208–17, 213, 268
crashes 16, 20–1, 33–6, 48–9, 106, 116–18, 121, 164, 168, 191, 225–9, 257–8, 308
cycling 3, 238, 241, 247
Daimler AG 71
data engineers 170, 284
Daytona 24 Hours 58
Delta Air Lines 87–8
Dennis, Ron 277, 279
desert terrain 149–55
Deutsche Bank 37
diet 235–43, 242, 266–7
diffusers 106, 173, 280
dinner 242–3
Diocles, Gaius Appuleius 92
DiRT 2.0 170
distraction 219, 310–13
downforce 11, 45, 55–8 passim, 106, 109–11, 122–4, 152–3, 163, 175, 248, 259, 298, 326
diffuser influences 106, 173
mechanical grip vs 122, 162–3
on S-bends 306
and set-up 176–7
in Super GT 56
wings influence 170–2
drag reduction system (DRS) 119, 120, 121–2, 126, 326, 327
drinking alcohol 63–8, 84, 90, 95
Driver’s Championship 70, 174
Driver’s Toolkit, 12 essential tools 27–49
driving suits 133–4, 200, 211, 217, 249
Dunlop 180
earni
ngs 69–71, 71, 92
employer–employee relationship 277–8
engineering know-how 64
engines 159–61
‘equal share’ payment 206
eSports 170
eyesight 235
fainting 221–5
Fast & Furious 151
fatigue 88, 259, 261, 271, 317
fear 218–20
fearlessness 48–9
Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), see FIA Ferrari 69, 72, 79–80, 98, 125, 138, 173, 176, 190–1, 203, 210, 263, 288–9, 297–8, 326
Prost sacked by 74
special payment 206
FIA 70, 117, 130–1, 171, 226–7, 280
Finland 213, 240
Fisichella, Giancarlo 28, 66
fitness 39, 235–43
fluid-dispensing button 245–6
F1, see Formula One
footwork 109–10, 111–12
Force India 170, 288
Formula E (FE) 161
Formula One (F1):
1983 season 74
1991 season 74, 189
2000 season 28
2001 season 28, 246, 250
2006 season 184–5
2008 season 190
2009 season 41–3, 47, 49, 67, 105, 173–4, 185–6
2010 season 193
2011 season 192–3
2012 season 177
2013 season 203
2014 season 127–30
2016 season 218
2017 season 11
2018 season 57–9, 176, 208
2019 season 176
2020 season 57, 293
cars in 1970s 236
deaths 257–8
ex-drivers 324–5
JB ‘on call’ to 11–12
JB’s ‘comeback’ 9–12, 13–22, 25
JB’s retirement 5
off-season 66, 91–2
race length 259
Super GT comparisons 121, 156, 194, 213
‘three Ms’ rule 294–8
Formula Three (F3) 155, 163, 212
Formula Four (F4) 155, 212
Formulaoneville 25, 294
France Grand Prix see Le Mans
front slide 123
Fry, Nick 280
fuel 133–42, 259
G-force 34, 110, 134, 226, 237–8, 248
breathing affected by 221–2
simulation 167
garage crew 142
Gascoyne, Mike 249
gear change 100, 115
gear shift 248, 258, 269
gears 107–9
German Grand Prix 145
GKS Karting 250
glamour 71–3
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) 243–5
go-karting, see karting
goal-setting 16–17, 257
Goddard, Richard 11–12, 16, 44, 78, 80, 200, 278, 311
Gough, Jules 44
Gran Turismo 33, 170
Grand Prix 27
JB wins 96–7
JB’s second-to-last 28
named, see main entries
1000K 56
weekends 36–8, 65, 197, 201, 204, 320
green circuit, defined 307
GT Racing, described in detail 55–9 (see also Super GT)
GT3 55, 58
Hamilton, Lewis 15, 27, 69, 71, 78, 81–2, 85, 103, 104–5, 126, 190, 192, 284–91 passim, 305, 322, 323, 325
‘Sherlock’ analysis of 97–8
hand-to-eye coordination 235
Hanoi Street Circuit 293
HANS device 48
Harrison, George 295
hats, see crash helmets
Hawaii 91–2
Head & Shoulders ad 15
Health & Safety 197, 247, 257
helmets, see crash helmets
Herbert, Johnny 26
high-speed corners 146, 177, 182, 238, 258, 304, 310
Hintsa, Dr Aki 240, 242
historic payments 206
Honda Racing 55, 56, 70, 98, 115, 139, 184, 198, 205
JB ambassador for 78
see also BAR-Honda
horsepower 55, 58, 100, 150, 151, 160, 259, 296, 298
Hülkenberg, Nico 239
Hungarian Grand Prix:
2006 125, 184–5
2009 210
2012 126
Hunt, James 49, 216
hydration 145, 194, 229, 230, 238, 240–1, 243–5, 246, 266
Imola circuit 98
IMSA 58
Indy Car 58, 119, 257–8
Indy 500 257
inside track 118
International Automobile Federation (FIA), see FIA
iRacing 170
irritating, being, pays dividends 120–1, 125
Irvine, Eddie 84, 85
Italian Grand Prix 191
Japanese Grand Prix 49, 55–7, 87, 89, 91, 143–4, 272, 325
Jenson Team Rocket RJN 58
Johnson, Jimmy 82
karting 26, 27, 29, 44–5, 54, 58, 95, 155, 163, 212, 228, 250–1, 257
kerb use 115, 126, 258
Kumpen, Sophie 27, 28, 250
La Rascasse 296
lactic acid 238
lap-time loss 113, 309–10
Lauda, Niki 49
Lazenby, Simon 321, 324
Le Mans 24-Hour Race 58, 164–5, 215, 257–74, 265–6, 294
learning, intense desire towards 29–30
Leclerc, Charles 292
left foot 109–10
Lemmens, Paul 250
‘local’ time 88–9
Los Angeles (LA) 3–5, 32, 41, 44, 54, 88–9, 91, 96, 200, 319
losing 202–8
low-speed corners 124
luck 39
luggage 88
lunch 241
Lyons, Simone (mother) 26, 202, 229, 311
McLaren 10, 15, 37, 38, 55, 71, 76, 127–8, 133, 139, 166, 168, 172, 190, 192, 198, 203, 205, 212, 217, 243, 277, 280, 284, 286, 288, 298
bosses 279
JB joins 78
nutrition 240
McQueen, Steve 259
Mad Max 48, 149, 151, 154
made-up rules 116
Magnussen, Kevin 29, 30, 117, 288
Malaysian Grand Prix 246, 293
Mansell, Nigel 189
marginal gains 247–9
Mario Kart 33
marketing 37, 75, 78–9, 190 (see also sponsorship)
Massa, Felipe 190, 210–11, 239–40
mechanical grip 56, 122, 162–3, 175, 326
media attention 10, 42, 65, 66, 73, 75–9, 81, 108, 139, 140, 140–1, 197, 280–1, 287, 312, 323
melatonin 90
Melbourne circuit 72, 294, 295
mental attitude 44–7
menus 240–3
Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport 71, 72, 74, 78, 103, 126, 137, 161, 172, 176, 200, 203, 247, 259, 326–7
safety car 131–2
Messi, Lionel 69
Michelin 112, 179, 180, 183
Middle East 194
Mikey (physio) 16, 43–4, 225
Mint 400 153, 154
modulation 104–5, 110, 305
Monaco Grand Prix 13–22, 25, 83, 209, 294, 296–7, 308
2000 295
2003 210, 228
2009 67, 105, 186, 216
2017 11–12, 17, 18, 126
JB wins 202
special atmosphere 295
Super Mondays 68, 194, 216
money 64–71 (see also spending; sponsorship)
Montezemolo, Luca di 190
Montoya, Juan Pablo 132, 282
Montreal circuit 294–5
Monza circuit, see Autodromo Nazionale
Monza motion sickness 167
motorcycling 149
motorhomes 9, 12, 79–83, 176, 189, 325
Mount Panorama (Bathurst) circuit 78
moving on 317–19
mph 16, 127, 132, 134, 152, 154, 219, 258–60, 263, 270, 298
Mugen Mot
orsports 39, 56
NASA 245
NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) 58, 82, 119, 141
natural skill 27–9
nausea, how to treat effectively 230
neck musculature 236–7
negativity 41–3, 47, 82
nerve, holding of 48–9
nerves 220–1
nutrition, see diet
occupational hazards 230–1
Olympics 244
1000K GP 56
one–two scores 105, 137, 280, 285
open-wheeled 45
overalls 216–17
overdrive 114, 293
oversteer 18, 53, 112, 168, 177, 178, 183, 202, 219, 304, 308–9
overtaking rules 115–27
panic attacks 221–5
partying 64–8, 67, 202, 216, 237, 294–6
peak condition 235–47
pedals 102, 104, 110, 112, 165, 177, 231, 245, 305, 308
Pérez, Checo 287, 288
Pérez, Sergio 21
Petersen Automotive Museum 200–1
Petrov, Vitaly 262, 268, 272–3
photo shoots 211, 216, 249
physio 16, 230, 312
ping-pong 54
Pirelli 135, 179, 181, 183–4
Pit Stop Bollock Drop 134
pit stops 132, 133–42
planes 85–7
playboy lifestyle 63–8, 79–87, 250, 281
PlayStation 164–5
podium 9, 16, 42, 68, 119, 186, 192, 194–9, 216, 260, 262, 273, 282, 285, 289–90, 297–8, 318, 329
pole position 18, 98, 99, 105–6, 160, 303
Portakabin anecdote 267
positioning 127–31
post-breakfast 240–1
post-lunch 241
practice 309
practice pit stops 133–4
Premiership footballer 71, 72, 73, 120
private jets (‘PJs’) 85–7
Project Cars 2 170
Prost, Alain 46, 74, 252, 286
public relations (PR) 16, 76, 87, 211, 296 (see also Gough, Jules; Williamson, James)
qualifying 16, 17–18, 35–6, 99, 103–8 passim, 113–14, 136, 186, 210, 216, 262, 272, 290, 292, 296, 298, 303–11 passim, 322
race engineers 103, 142, 284
racecraft 95
racing line 114–15
Räikkönen, Kimi 71, 136, 194, 196, 203, 213, 291
rallying 45
reaction time 102, 235
rear end 104, 168, 308
rear slide 96, 123
Rebellion Racing 262, 273
Red Bull Racing 69, 72, 105, 125, 126, 134, 146, 174, 176, 185, 192, 203, 285
motorhome 325
Ricciardo leaves 212
Turkey (2010) 284
‘red-stop light’ rules 3
relaxation 43, 47, 80, 82, 91–2, 154, 221, 225, 236, 244, 246, 311, 325
Renault F1 74, 285
rFactor 2 170
Ricciardo, Daniel 66, 91, 209, 212, 285
right foot 109, 110
right-handers 20, 124
risk 107, 116–17, 119, 121, 136–7, 142, 181, 211, 219, 225–6, 228, 252, 282, 293–4, 319, 326