Bahrain Grand Prix: Catch Jenson Button in His 250th Race
The 34-year-old Jenson Button is all set to kick-off his 250th Formula One race of his career in the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix.
"I am 34 years old but I don't feel old ... I look at pictures of me when I was 20 years old and I was an ugly bastard. I am not that much better, but I am better. Anyway, age is better for experience. The big surprise to me is that 50 races ago it was 200 with my win in Hungary in 2011, and it feels like yesterday. That's crazy."
"I am a Duracell Bunny ... Every 34-year-old in F1 now is fitter than ever. Fernando trains flat out and I do the same to keep young and to do 56 laps in Malaysia at 100 per cent. It was good being able to hold off people. You need good mental and physical strength to do that," he further added.
Back at the Malyasian Grand Prix, Jenson Button commented his car was not that quick enough to compete. He finished sixth, behind Nico Hulkenberg.
Button is set to surpass Jarno Tull (256 Grand Prix) and Ricardo Patrese (257 Grand Prix) very soon. However, he still has to continue further to reach the stand of Ruben Barrichello (326) and Michael Schumacher (308).
"It was the same with Michael Schumacher - in his late thirties he was still very strong. I have no worries that a guy in his late thirties is as good as a guy in his twenties in a Formula One car as long as his head is still in it and he still has the will to win. The positives of a guy my age outweigh the negatives, the experience, having been through the rough and smooth and understanding a racing car. So maybe the best years are to come," he said.
Button, lost his father John Button, a popular racer in F1 circuit, who died at age 70 in January 2014. The deatg was a major shock for him.
"I was able to enjoy the moment with the people I had around me. As it was, I had a couple of drinks on Sunday night. More than a couple. I was a mess, but I needed that ... But he said he was a long way from overcoming his bereavement ... It didn't change anything. Every race is going to feel the same. But every race is also going to be part of the healing process," Button said.
Earlier on Wednesday, Button's former teammate Lewis Hamilton saluted him for all his efforts. "I take my hat off to him ... He's a great athlete. I can only hope and dream that I get to have as long and successful career as he's had. I have a huge amount of respect for Jenson. Every year it gets harder and harder, the challenge gets more and more. Yet he comes back every year, and he's focused on it," Hamilton said.
