Formula One news

'Playboy Champion with the winning smile' - Hill on Button

Former British World Champion Damon Hill has led the tributes for Jenson Button after the Brawn driver became the second consecutive British winner on Sunday. The Frome man is the second British Champion in a row for the first time in 40 years.

Button's points total cannot be beaten in Abu Dhabi

Four decades ago, Jackie Stewart picked up the first of three Formula One championship titles to become the second consecutive British World Champion, after Graham Hill. Now, four decades down the line, Jenson Button follows in the footsteps of Lewis Hamilton in what has been a fairytale season for the newly-run Brawn GP outfit.

"It's a very happy story," 1996 Champion Hill told BBC Radio 5 Live. "Jenson's a lovely guy and he's the playboy World Champion with the winning smile - I think everyone feels good for him; he got accused of not taking it seriously but I think he showed everyone how serious he is inside."

Having been criticised for his race pace this season, 'Our Jense' delivered a strong performance to elevate himself from 14th on the grid to a top five result at Interlagos. "Jenson really put his stamp on it," Hill continued. "He showed everyone that he was determined to win this one, and take it, and wasn't going to have it given to him."

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