When I'm on my own, I can be negative. I need my friends and family around to help pick me up if I've had a bad qualifying session. I think insecurity plagues a lot of sportspeople.

However Button struggled with tyre temperatures and achieved a season-worst seventh place; during the race he asked frustratedly over team radio "How can this car be so bad at the moment?"

His bad run continued in Valencia; he was out-qualified by his teammate and then held up behind Webber for a lot of the race could finish only in seventh place. At the European Grand Prix in Valencia Button finiJenson Buttond 3rd and maintained 2nd place in the title race with another podium. At the German Grand Prix Button was again pulled into the weighbridge but went on to qualify fourth.

Button was named one of the "Men of the Year" in both 2009 and 2011 by Top Gear. Following the withdrawal of Honda from the sport in December 2008 he was left without a drive for the 2009 season until Ross Brawn led a management buyout of the team in February 2009 and Button suddenly found himself in a highly competitive Mercedes-engined car. Button began karting at the age of eight and achieved early success before progressing to car racing in the British Formula Ford Championship and the British Formula Three Championship.