Jenson Button Picks 2011 McLaren Over Championship-Winning Brawn as His Best F1 Car

Contrary to popular belief, Jenson Button has named his 2011 McLaren as the best Formula 1 car he ever drove, not the Brawn BGP 001 that delivered his 2009 World Championship. The 2009 champion explained that while the Brawn's story was incredible, the McLaren MP4-26 was a superior machine in terms of pure performance and driving feel, despite finishing runner-up to Sebastian Vettel that year.

Why it matters:

Button's statement challenges the long-held perception that the Brawn BGP 001 was a dominant, all-conquering car. It highlights the crucial difference between a car that wins a championship through a perfect storm of circumstances and one that is fundamentally brilliant to drive. For fans and analysts, this insight from a 15-time race winner provides a deeper understanding of what drivers value in a machine beyond just the results sheet.

The details:

• The 2011 McLaren (MP4-26): Button was unequivocal, calling the McLaren "the best car I ever drove in F1." He secured four victories with it, including the grueling Canadian Grand Prix, which remains the longest race in F1 history.
• The Brawn BGP 001: He clarified that the Brawn's magic was in its story, not its outright speed. "It was better than the other cars, but it wasn’t that quick; there were still weaknesses," Button said, attributing its success to the massive regulatory shift for 2009 that caught other teams off guard.
• Honorable Mentions: Button also praised other cars from his extensive career for their unique characteristics.
  • 2004 BAR-Honda 006: Praised for its "feel" and V10 engine, calling it "such a nice car to drive" despite not being a race winner.
  • 2000 Williams FW22: His first-ever F1 car, which he said "did nothing wrong" and felt like a "big go-kart," a sentiment he reaffirmed after driving it again recently at Silverstone.

The big picture:

Button's reflections underscore that a championship-winning car isn't always the 'best' car from a driver's perspective. The Brawn represents a fairytale, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity born from turmoil. The McLaren, on the other hand, represents a peak of engineering and drivability that, despite falling short against a dominant rival, left a lasting impression as the ultimate tool. It's a reminder that in F1, the narrative often overshadows the nuanced reality of what happens inside the cockpit.