Button Picks 2011 McLaren Over Title-Winning Brawn as His Best-Ever F1 Car
Despite winning his sole F1 title with the Brawn GP in 2009, Jenson Button names his 2011 McLaren as the best car he ever drove, praising its superior feel and performance against a dominant Red Bull team.
Jenson Button has named the 2011 McLaren MP4-26 as the best Formula 1 car he ever drove, surprisingly placing it above the Brawn BGP 001 that delivered his sole World Championship in 2009. The 2009 champion stated that while the Brawn was a title winner, the McLaren from his 2011 runner-up campaign provided a superior driving experience.
Why it matters:
This distinction highlights the nuanced difference between a 'championship-winning car' and a driver's personal 'best car.' The 2009 Brawn was a beneficiary of unique circumstances, while the 2011 McLaren was a fundamentally brilliant machine that had to fight against a historically dominant opponent. Button's preference sheds light on what drivers truly value: the raw connection and feel of a car, not just its results.
The details:
- Button's definitive choice: "The best car for me was the 2011 McLaren. I would say it was the best car I ever drove in F1," Button stated in a recent interview.
- The 2009 Brawn BGP 001: Despite securing the title with six wins, four poles, and nine fastest laps, Button doesn't rate it as his finest machine. Its advantage stemmed largely from the controversial double-diffuser regulation, which caught other teams off-guard at the start of the season.
- The 2011 McLaren MP4-26: This car allowed Button to fight for the runner-up spot, securing three iconic victories—including a masterful performance in a rain-soaked Canadian GP—and 12 podiums. He was beaten only by the near-unbeatable Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull.
- A sentimental favorite: Button also ranked the BAR-Honda 006 among his favorites, calling it "a really nice car to drive" and noting its innovative "flexi rear wing," even though it never won a race in an era dominated by Ferrari and Michael Schumacher.
The big picture:
Button's perspective offers a rare glimpse into a driver's soul, where the connection and feel of a machine can outweigh its ultimate statistical success. This appreciation for a well-engineered, responsive car stands in stark contrast to his later struggles with the uncompetitive McLaren-Honda partnership. For a champion like Button, the 'best' car isn't just the one that wins the title, but the one that provides the purest and most rewarding experience behind the wheel.