Everyone loves an underdog but does Jenson Button really fit that category?

Formula One / Mike O’Donnell / 19 October 2009 / Leave a Comment

"The odds of [290.0] seemed justified as the question was not how Button would perform, but if he was going to have a car to perform in."

Eighty-nine points, eight podium finishes, four pole positions and still one race to go. Not bad for a man who just three weeks before the beginning of the 2009 Formula 1 season was trading at [290.0] on Betfair.

At a glance, the story of how the 29-year-old Brit came to be the Formula One Drivers' World Champion may appear to be an against all odds fairytale. With Honda withdrawing from Formula 1 racing and no obvious sponsor about to step in, prospects for the coming season were not looking too promising for the former British Formula Ford and Formula Three champion. It is for these reasons that the odds of [290.0] seemed justified as the question was not how Button would perform, but if he was going to have a car to perform in.

However, on the eve of the first Grand Prix of the season things were starting to look very different for Button and his Brawn GP team. Ross Brawn had taken control of the team and managed to create a car of such a high quality that other teams such as Ferrari, Red Bull and Renault all protested the legality of the diffuser that had been fitted on the vehicle. This was an early indicator that there was a feeling amongst those in the know that the Brawn GP01 was a car that in the right hands can win races.

As a result of the confirmation of the secure funding for the 2009 season and a car that was worrying all other constructors, Button was then a generous [11.0] to win the Drivers' Championship whilst Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen led the way at [5.9] with Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa just behind them at [6.2] and [6.4] respectively.
One month on and Button's start to the season was hard to fault, three wins from the first four races had left him in a commanding position at the top of the Drivers' Championship and as a result was clear favourite at odds of [2.84]. This, after having won the Bahrain Grand Prix from fourth on the grid and being matched at a high of [8.8] to win the race.

But just as things as things seemed to be falling in to place, a twist in the plot. As Formula One went on its break, the Brawn team were faced with the fact that they had built a car that would only perform when running in a suitable temperature range and would struggle to stay on the track in extreme conditions. Despite this worry, Button had managed to maintain his status as favourite to win the Drivers' Championship at odds of [2.3].

From then on Button steadily accumulated points toward the latter end of the season much as his fellow country man and reigning champion Lewis Hamilton had done the year before him. This left him in a strong position coming in to the penultimate race of the season, however poor weather and an inability to react to the conditions left Button starting the Brazilian Grand Prix back in 14th place with much to do in order to clinch his first Drivers' Championship.

The need for a top five finish was increased by the uncertainty about the Brawn GP01's adaptability to the circuit and conditions of Abu Dhabi meaning that Button needed to climb nine places in order to become the 2009 Drivers' Champion.

Aggressive driving and a performance that justified why he had been at the top of the Drivers' Championship since Melbourne led to him moving in to fifth place with three laps remaining and as Felipe Massa waved him over the finishing line, this years' fairytale was complete.

With this Jenson Button became the tenth Brit to win the Formula One Drivers' Championship and now will attempt to do what no other Brit has ever been able to do, win back-to-back titles.

As well as attempting to go one better than Hamilton on the track, Button will also be hoping to improve upon Hamilton's record in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award where the Stevenage born racer has come second for the last two years. Button is currently favourite to win the award at [1.77] on Betfair.