Formula One news
Button ready to race at home
16 June 2009Jenson Button is delighted to be returning to his home Grand Prix as championship leader this weekend. Having won six of the season's first seven races and equalling records of Jim Clark and Michael Schumacher in the process, British crowds stand with a strong chance of witnessing a home winner for the second consecutive year.
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Arriving at Silverstone in 2008, Jenson Button was sixteenth in the drivers' standings and 45 points behind then championship leader Felipe Massa. A year down the line, however, and Jenson heads to Northamptonshire holding the top spot and a 26-point advantage over team-mate and closest challenger Rubens Barrichello.
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| 61 points from a possible 65 has spelt a near-perfect start for Button in 2009 |
"The British Grand Prix is always an amazing weekend and I can't wait to race at Silverstone in front of our home fans on Sunday," said Jenson, whose best British result to date is fourth for B.A.R in 2004. "To be leading the championship going into my home Grand Prix is something that I've never experienced before and it puts a smile on my face every time I think about it." In fact, Jenson's points margin cannot be overhauled until the Hungarian Grand Prix on 26 July at the very earliest, although second to fourth positions in the championship are now covered by just 7.5 points.
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| Jenson's last points finish at home came with fifth place in 2005 |
Confirmation permitting, the race will move to the East Midlands and Donington Park in 2010, leaving more than a fair share of memories at Silverstone after a 23-year non-stop spell at the track. "The layout of Silverstone makes it one of the classic racing circuits and along with Suzuka and Spa - it has to be one of the best tracks out there," Button continued. "Every driver who races here loves the place as it's so fast and you can really push the car to its limits. It's a great circuit for the fans as you can see just how amazing the cars are from the speed, the change of the direction and the braking.
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| 2008's race ended in the gravel trap at Priory |
"I have so many memories of Silverstone going right back to Mansell's win in 1987 and my first Formula One race there in 2000, when David Coulthard won and I finished fifth. It's strange to think that this might be our last race at Silverstone and I can't imagine not having a British Grand Prix so we'll be going all out to put on a fantastic show." This weekend will also be the supporters' first chance to see Jenson's new helmet, which replaces his customary luminous Brawn colours for his home race.
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