Formula One news

Mansell success an inspiration for Button

Jenson Button has explained how the success of fellow British driver Nigel Mansell will remain in his mind when competing in the British Grand Prix next weekend. With the superior Brawn at his disposal, this season is Jenson's first genuine opportunity to clinch victory in his home race, as Lewis Hamilton did last year.

Mansell famously drives Ayrton Senna home in 1991

After taking wins in six of the seven Grands Prix so far in 2009, the odds are on for more success to be heading the way of 29-year-old Button when the F1 circus travels to the Northamptonshire countryside. If he were to win at Silverstone this season, however, Button's victory would be the 17th for British drivers in a British car at the British Grand Prix. The man to do this the most times is Jim Clark, with four consecutive wins for Lotus from 1962 to 1965 followed by a fifth in 1967. Second in that list is Upton-upon-Severn's Nigel Mansell, who won his home race on four occasions for Williams: 1986, 1987, 1991 and his championship year of 1992.

"I watched Nigel winning and the passion and emotion from the British fans was amazing," championship leader Button told The Mirror. "To win your home Grand Prix is very special. My ideal season would be to win Monaco, Silverstone and the World Championship. The biggest landmark in an ideal career is obvious - the World Championship; it's not how many times you win it, how much you win it by or how many races you win, but winning it and getting more points than any other driver. After that it's Silverstone - it's something I've wanted to do since I was kid."

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