Button joy at MBE honour

World champ celebrates while Brawn also awarded OBE

Last updated: 2nd January 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Button joy at MBE honour

New Year Joy: Button (right) and Brawn have reason to celebrate

This really is the crowning glory to what has been the most incredible year of my life.

Jenson Button on his MBE
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Jenson Button has described being awarded the MBE in the New Year Honours List as "the crowning glory" of a superb 2009.

Button won six of the first seven grands prix of the 2009 season and sealed the Formula One drivers' title in Brazil with a race to spare, while his team Brawn GP won the constructors' crown with team principal Ross Brawn being awarded an OBE.

Button concluded the year by signing for McLaren, where he will link up with Lewis Hamilton.

Despite all the highlights of his year, Button insisted that receiving the MBE was the greatest honour yet.

The 29-year-old said: "This really is the crowning glory to what has been the most incredible year of my life.

"I'm incredibly proud to have joined the likes of Mike Hawthorn, Graham Hill, Jim Clark, John Surtees, Sir Jackie Stewart, James Hunt, Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill and Lewis Hamilton as British Formula 1 world champion.

"But to be recognised by Her Majesty The Queen and the British people is a tremendous honour for me.''

Remarkable

Button's success was all the more remarkable considering how the year began for his team.

There were serious doubts they would even be on the starting grid for 2009 after Japanese manufacturers Honda announced at the end of last year that they were quitting the sport.

Team principal Brawn led a management buy-out and the reconstituted Brawn GP side made a stunning start to the new campaign.

Button added: "The past 12 months have provided me with such an exhilarating journey. We literally started with nothing, but had the belief, determination and passion to take on the world and succeed.

"Everybody at Brawn GP played their part - and it was down to their expertise, dedication and hard work that we were able to achieve so much.

"Many people played a role in my world championship - and in receiving this award, I want to acknowledge and thank them for all their efforts."

The year ahead promises to be an equally exciting and challenging one for Button, who is teaming up with Hamilton at McLaren.

"For 2010, I am starting another exciting chapter in my career - and I am already looking forward to representing Great Britain on the world's sporting stage and successfully defending my world championship,'' he said.

Brawn was awarded the OBE for his contribution to the 2009 success and motor sport in general.

He will be in charge of the Mercedes GP team next season after the German manufacturer bought out the Brawn GP marque.

Comments (8)

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David Middleton says...

this is rediculous, he only won the first 7 races of the season because everyone elses cars were terrible, but as soon as there cars started getting better u will see that he only made the podium a couple of times after that.

Posted 12:01 6th January 2010

Alan Gray says...

Knighthood Andrew? Be serious... when do the Royal Family ever watch Formula 1? Sure, he deserves it... but maybe when he finishes his career. Well done Jenson, and good luck for 2010!

Posted 01:52 2nd January 2010

Ian Barber says...

I agree that Senior Team Members should be acknowledged too. The like of Colin Chapman, Ken Tyrell, Patrick Head, Ron Dennis, Adrian Newey and even*gulps* Bernie Ecclestone should have been acknowledged too? As far as I know Frank Williams is the only non driver to receive a knighthood. This is from a sport that has been dominated by British brains throughout it's history.

Posted 00:44 2nd January 2010

Gerry Pratt says...

Why has Jenson Button been honoured and Lewis Hamilton not? I know which of them is the most talented.

Posted 12:06 1st January 2010

Bally Singh says...

I think it's a disgrace that Jenson has been given an MBE. For what? Winning 7 races in 10 years? A joke and further proof that the queens honours don't really mean anything anymore. Ross Brawn's OBE is fully deserved for his continuous efforts and REAL contribution to F1, and in my estimation, is long overdue. Another example is the guy from the Lions Rugby, was a player for so many years, went on to manage them winning the series and he's just been given an MBE..after years and years of effort and success. There are drivers out there that have won more than 7 races and don't get their recognition, so sorry Jenson, it's not worth the paper its written on.

Posted 19:10 31st December 2009

Gavin Monk says...

WHY????. His job is to win, what has he really done to deserve an MBE.

Posted 14:20 31st December 2009

Andrew Whitehead says...

How come Ross Brawn has not been knighted? Hes won 8 world championships with 3 different teams and 2 different drivers! Including funding a team that was about to go out of existence and winning a work championship with them that same session! Surley thats enough to get knighted?

Posted 11:49 31st December 2009

Chris Duffy says...

What a worthy way to end a year of success..With Jenson being World Champion and also Ross Brawn being honoured as well...Jenson you are a worthy champion and good luck for 2010 with Lewis

Posted 10:07 31st December 2009
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