John Button

Who was John Button?

John Button was an English Rallycross driver and the father of 2009 Formula One World Champion Jenson Button. His best overall results were both in 1976, as the runner-up in the Embassy/RAC-MSA British Rallycross and TEAC/Lydden Rallycross championships.

Button was born in London. During the 1970s he became well known in the UK for his so-called Colorado Beetle Volkswagen with eventually 2.1-litre engine. Later on he competed less successfully for a couple of years in a Volkswagen Golf Mk1 with 1.9-litre engine, run by his own VW-Audi dealership and tuning garage Autoconti of Trowbridge in Wiltshire.

Button gained much airtime during Formula One coverage in 2009 when his son Jenson won 6 out of the first 7 races of the year. His charismatic and charming personality made him a favourite among viewers, and throughout the years he became a popular figure in the Formula 1 paddocks. John was massively proud of his son and attended every single Grand Prix of his career, apart from the 2001 Brazilian Grand Prix when he was unable to make it because of illness.

Button died at the age of 70 in his home in the south of France from a suspected heart attack on 12 January 2014.