A front right suspension failure has ended McLaren driver and 2009 Formula One world champion Jenson Button’s final Formula One race early. Ugh, that’s the worst. This was Button’s 305th Formula One grand prix.
A replay (viewable here) showed Button riding a high inner curb a bit rough, which loosened up Button’s front right wheel.
While he didn’t have the long farewell walk back to the pits that fellow retiring driver Felipe Massa did in Brazil, Button was able to drive his hobbled car back in to the pits, where he was greeted with a standing ovation and a hug from his mom.
I’ll miss seeing Button on the grid, even if it has been in a thoroughly disappointing McLaren Honda the past couple years. Farewell, Jenson. (Rallycross next, please?)
DISCUSSION
Button. Harris. Schmitz.
I wanna see those three race. Anywhere. Any car. Any silly stipulation producers can throw at them. Heck, put Susie Wolff and Felipe Massa in there, too, so we can complete the Power Rangers.
If BBC can come up with a cracking-excellent TopGear Mk3 episode/special with those five, I’d squeal and seize end up with lockjaw.