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How to Be an F1 Driver

Page 24

by Jenson Button


  The final thank you goes, of course, to the sensational future Mrs Button. Brittny, thank you, as always, for your unwavering love, support and understanding with this project, and with everything. Hendrix and I are so lucky to have you, I love you very much.

  INDEX

  (Page numbers in bold refer to significant subject mentions)

  Abu Dhabi 9, 115, 218, 282, 299

  accidents, see crashes

  adrenalin rush 59, 117, 121, 122, 197, 220, 245

  Aero Racing 58

  aerodynamics 45, 56, 123, 127–31, 127–31 passim, 162–3, 171–2, 171–5, 173, 175, 176, 176–7, 177, 215, 237, 248, 253, 306, 326

  airlines 87–8

  Albert, Rince of Monaco 202, 216

  alcohol, see drinking alcohol

  Aleshin, Mikhail 262, 272

  Alonso, Fernando 10, 27, 33, 81, 97–8, 138, 170, 184, 218, 227–8, 273–4, 288–90, 298

  Always Be Learning’ philosophy 30, 327

  Amber Lounge 67, 202, 296

  Arai Helmet 213

  architect’s window 280

  Armco barriers 308

  arrogance, defined 56–7

  attitude 44–7

  Austin Grand Prix 119, 120, 126, 126, 293, 299

  Australian Grand Prix 72, 78, 87, 91, 132, 146, 294, 295

  Austrian Grand Prix 146

  autocross 4

  Autodromo Nazionale Monza 191, 231, 297

  automatic gearboxes 109

  bad-PR anecdote 87

  Bahrain Grand Prix 144–5, 287

  Baja 1000 149–55

  BAR-Honda 98, 115, 198, 205

  Barcelona circuit, see Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya

  Barrichello, Rubens 42, 81, 85, 105, 137–8, 185, 210–11, 216, 290

  BATAK wall 235, 267

  Bathurst (Mount Panorama) circuit 78

  Beckham, David 208

  Belgium 250

  Bell Helmets 212, 213

  Benetton Formula Ltd 28, 66, 101, 163, 166, 173, 249–50, 281, 282

  Bianchi, Jules 258

  BMW 77, 96

  bodily functions 229

  body fat 238, 243

  bonus payments 70, 206

  booze-ups, see drinking alcohol

  Bottas, Valtteri 103, 160, 214, 322

  Boullier, Eric 10–11

  boxing 32

  BR Engineering 265

  braking 4, 17–18, 29, 97, 107–8, 109–14

  points310

  under- 237, 250–1, 258, 308

  zones 110–11, 293

  Brawn Racing 16, 70, 81, 105, 140, 160, 174, 185, 205, 213, 281, 290

  creation of 173

  first GP one–two 280

  JB joins 200

  JB leaves 78

  Rubens’ accident 210–11

  Brawn, Ross 173, 200, 280

  Brazilian Grand Prix 28, 87, 190, 216, 218, 272, 273, 290

  breakfast 240, 242–3

  breathing, G-force affects 221–2

  Brenthel, Jonathan 150, 155

  Brenthel, Jordan 150, 151–3, 155

  Briatore, Flavio 66, 281, 282

  Bridgestone 112, 179, 180, 183

  British American Racing (BAR) 98, 115 (see also BAR-Honda)

  British Grand Prix 36–7, 65, 146, 196, 271, 283, 298

  2009 185–6

  2018 320–3

  Brownlee, Alistair 244

  Brownlee, Jonathan 244

  Brunt, Roger 4

  Buncombe, Chrissy 16, 44, 151, 153, 265–6

  40th birthday 149

  Le Mans win 261

  burnouts 100

  Button, Hendrix Jonathan (son) 26, 328–9

  Button, Jenson:

  as ambassador 37, 78

  becomes racing driver 26, 69–70

  best-ever laps 16

  best mate, see Buncombe, Chrissy

  boats owned by 83–5

  Brittny meets 10

  Californian driving lessons 3–5, 10

  childhood 26, 252

  ‘comeback’ 9–12, 13–22, 25

  F1, first enters 28, 29, 64

  F1, ‘last’ race 9

  F1, as spectator 25

  F3, as driver 155, 163, 212

  F4, as driver 155, 212

  fails first driving test 4

  father–son bond 192

  fatherhood 26, 328–9

  father’s death 10

  first go-kart 26

  first pole position of 98, 99

  future plans 57–8

  joins McLaren 78

  in LA, see Los Angeles (LA)

  leaves karting 29

  love of Babybels 80, 81, 82

  manager, see Goddard, Richard

  ‘off the pace’ 153, 207–8

  other sports taken up by 32, 240

  other types of vehicles 53–4

  parents split 26

  retirement 5, 9–10, 25, 47

  second-to-last GP 28, 218

  Suzuka win 138

  as TV commentator, see Sky

  worst accident 16

  Button, John (father) 26, 41, 43, 54, 191, 295, 329

  death of 10

  father–son bond 192

  karting name 58

  Button’s buttons 245–6, 266

  caffeine 244–5, 267

  Californian driving licence 3–4, 10

  Californian Highway Patrol 4

  calories 240, 241

  camber 112, 175, 183–4, 263

  Canadian Grand Prix 76, 125, 189, 294–5

  car knowledge 249–54, 304–5

  car museums 200–1

  carbohydrates 241–3, 244

  carbon monocoque 55, 58

  Carry On Formula One Driver 96

  Cassidy, Nick 194

  caster angle 175

  Catch-22 situations 163

  celebrations 9, 189–202

  champagne spraying 194–8

  chicanes 126, 258

  Chinese Grand Prix 221–2

  Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya 103, 105, 137, 140, 160, 292

  Circuit de la Sarthe, see Le Mans 24-Hour Race

  Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps 28, 144, 146, 177, 193, 283, 294, 298

  circuits 307–13 (see also by name)

  Cirque du Soleil 295

  claustrophobia 222, 223

  ‘clutch bite point find’ 100

  clutch control 102

  competitiveness 28, 32, 45, 58, 66, 173, 196, 260, 272, 318

  Constructor’s Championship 70, 174, 191, 206

  contracts 70, 77, 166, 198, 200, 278, 279, 285

  Cookie Monster anecdote 76

  corners 308–9

  Coulthard, David 66, 68, 117–18

  crash helmets 191, 200, 208–17, 213, 268

  crashes 16, 20–1, 33–6, 48–9, 106, 116–18, 121, 164, 168, 191, 225–9, 257–8, 308

  cycling 3, 238, 241, 247

  Daimler AG 71

  data engineers 170, 284

  Daytona 24 Hours 58

  Delta Air Lines 87–8

  Dennis, Ron 277, 279

  desert terrain 149–55

  Deutsche Bank 37

  diet 235–43, 242, 266–7

  diffusers 106, 173, 280

  dinner 242–3

  Diocles, Gaius Appuleius 92

  DiRT 2.0 170

  distraction 219, 310–13

  downforce 11, 45, 55–8 passim, 106, 109–11, 122–4, 152–3, 163, 175, 248, 259, 298, 326

  diffuser influences 106, 173

  mechanical grip vs 122, 162–3

  on S-bends 306

  and set-up 176–7

  in Super GT 56

  wings influence 170–2

  drag reduction system (DRS) 119, 120, 121–2, 126, 326, 327

  drinking alcohol 63–8, 84, 90, 95

  Driver’s Championship 70, 174

  Driver’s Toolkit, 12 essential tools 27–49

  driving suits 133–4, 200, 211, 217, 249

  Dunlop 180

  earni
ngs 69–71, 71, 92

  employer–employee relationship 277–8

  engineering know-how 64

  engines 159–61

  ‘equal share’ payment 206

  eSports 170

  eyesight 235

  fainting 221–5

  Fast & Furious 151

  fatigue 88, 259, 261, 271, 317

  fear 218–20

  fearlessness 48–9

  Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), see FIA Ferrari 69, 72, 79–80, 98, 125, 138, 173, 176, 190–1, 203, 210, 263, 288–9, 297–8, 326

  Prost sacked by 74

  special payment 206

  FIA 70, 117, 130–1, 171, 226–7, 280

  Finland 213, 240

  Fisichella, Giancarlo 28, 66

  fitness 39, 235–43

  fluid-dispensing button 245–6

  F1, see Formula One

  footwork 109–10, 111–12

  Force India 170, 288

  Formula E (FE) 161

  Formula One (F1):

  1983 season 74

  1991 season 74, 189

  2000 season 28

  2001 season 28, 246, 250

  2006 season 184–5

  2008 season 190

  2009 season 41–3, 47, 49, 67, 105, 173–4, 185–6

  2010 season 193

  2011 season 192–3

  2012 season 177

  2013 season 203

  2014 season 127–30

  2016 season 218

  2017 season 11

  2018 season 57–9, 176, 208

  2019 season 176

  2020 season 57, 293

  cars in 1970s 236

  deaths 257–8

  ex-drivers 324–5

  JB ‘on call’ to 11–12

  JB’s ‘comeback’ 9–12, 13–22, 25

  JB’s retirement 5

  off-season 66, 91–2

  race length 259

  Super GT comparisons 121, 156, 194, 213

  ‘three Ms’ rule 294–8

  Formula Three (F3) 155, 163, 212

  Formula Four (F4) 155, 212

  Formulaoneville 25, 294

  France Grand Prix see Le Mans

  front slide 123

  Fry, Nick 280

  fuel 133–42, 259

  G-force 34, 110, 134, 226, 237–8, 248

  breathing affected by 221–2

  simulation 167

  garage crew 142

  Gascoyne, Mike 249

  gear change 100, 115

  gear shift 248, 258, 269

  gears 107–9

  German Grand Prix 145

  GKS Karting 250

  glamour 71–3

  GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) 243–5

  go-karting, see karting

  goal-setting 16–17, 257

  Goddard, Richard 11–12, 16, 44, 78, 80, 200, 278, 311

  Gough, Jules 44

  Gran Turismo 33, 170

  Grand Prix 27

  JB wins 96–7

  JB’s second-to-last 28

  named, see main entries

  1000K 56

  weekends 36–8, 65, 197, 201, 204, 320

  green circuit, defined 307

  GT Racing, described in detail 55–9 (see also Super GT)

  GT3 55, 58

  Hamilton, Lewis 15, 27, 69, 71, 78, 81–2, 85, 103, 104–5, 126, 190, 192, 284–91 passim, 305, 322, 323, 325

  ‘Sherlock’ analysis of 97–8

  hand-to-eye coordination 235

  Hanoi Street Circuit 293

  HANS device 48

  Harrison, George 295

  hats, see crash helmets

  Hawaii 91–2

  Head & Shoulders ad 15

  Health & Safety 197, 247, 257

  helmets, see crash helmets

  Herbert, Johnny 26

  high-speed corners 146, 177, 182, 238, 258, 304, 310

  Hintsa, Dr Aki 240, 242

  historic payments 206

  Honda Racing 55, 56, 70, 98, 115, 139, 184, 198, 205

  JB ambassador for 78

  see also BAR-Honda

  horsepower 55, 58, 100, 150, 151, 160, 259, 296, 298

  Hülkenberg, Nico 239

  Hungarian Grand Prix:

  2006 125, 184–5

  2009 210

  2012 126

  Hunt, James 49, 216

  hydration 145, 194, 229, 230, 238, 240–1, 243–5, 246, 266

  Imola circuit 98

  IMSA 58

  Indy Car 58, 119, 257–8

  Indy 500 257

  inside track 118

  International Automobile Federation (FIA), see FIA

  iRacing 170

  irritating, being, pays dividends 120–1, 125

  Irvine, Eddie 84, 85

  Italian Grand Prix 191

  Japanese Grand Prix 49, 55–7, 87, 89, 91, 143–4, 272, 325

  Jenson Team Rocket RJN 58

  Johnson, Jimmy 82

  karting 26, 27, 29, 44–5, 54, 58, 95, 155, 163, 212, 228, 250–1, 257

  kerb use 115, 126, 258

  Kumpen, Sophie 27, 28, 250

  La Rascasse 296

  lactic acid 238

  lap-time loss 113, 309–10

  Lauda, Niki 49

  Lazenby, Simon 321, 324

  Le Mans 24-Hour Race 58, 164–5, 215, 257–74, 265–6, 294

  learning, intense desire towards 29–30

  Leclerc, Charles 292

  left foot 109–10

  Lemmens, Paul 250

  ‘local’ time 88–9

  Los Angeles (LA) 3–5, 32, 41, 44, 54, 88–9, 91, 96, 200, 319

  losing 202–8

  low-speed corners 124

  luck 39

  luggage 88

  lunch 241

  Lyons, Simone (mother) 26, 202, 229, 311

  McLaren 10, 15, 37, 38, 55, 71, 76, 127–8, 133, 139, 166, 168, 172, 190, 192, 198, 203, 205, 212, 217, 243, 277, 280, 284, 286, 288, 298

  bosses 279

  JB joins 78

  nutrition 240

  McQueen, Steve 259

  Mad Max 48, 149, 151, 154

  made-up rules 116

  Magnussen, Kevin 29, 30, 117, 288

  Malaysian Grand Prix 246, 293

  Manchester United Treble Reunion 208

  Mansell, Nigel 189

  marginal gains 247–9

  Mario Kart 33

  marketing 37, 75, 78–9, 190 (see also sponsorship)

  Massa, Felipe 190, 210–11, 239–40

  mechanical grip 56, 122, 162–3, 175, 326

  media attention 10, 42, 65, 66, 73, 75–9, 81, 108, 139, 140, 140–1, 197, 280–1, 287, 312, 323

  melatonin 90

  Melbourne circuit 72, 294, 295

  mental attitude 44–7

  menus 240–3

  Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport 71, 72, 74, 78, 103, 126, 137, 161, 172, 176, 200, 203, 247, 259, 326–7

  safety car 131–2

  Messi, Lionel 69

  Michelin 112, 179, 180, 183

  Middle East 194

  Mikey (physio) 16, 43–4, 225

  Mint 400 153, 154

  modulation 104–5, 110, 305

  Monaco Grand Prix 13–22, 25, 83, 209, 294, 296–7, 308

  2000 295

  2003 210, 228

  2009 67, 105, 186, 216

  2017 11–12, 17, 18, 126

  JB wins 202

  special atmosphere 295

  Super Mondays 68, 194, 216

  money 64–71 (see also spending; sponsorship)

  Montezemolo, Luca di 190

  Montoya, Juan Pablo 132, 282

  Montreal circuit 294–5

  Monza circuit, see Autodromo Nazionale

  Monza motion sickness 167

  motorcycling 149

  motorhomes 9, 12, 79–83, 176, 189, 325

  Mount Panorama (Bathurst) circuit 78

  moving on 317–19

  mph 16, 127, 132, 134, 152, 154, 219, 258–60, 263, 270, 298

  Mugen Mot
orsports 39, 56

  NASA 245

  NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) 58, 82, 119, 141

  natural skill 27–9

  nausea, how to treat effectively 230

  neck musculature 236–7

  negativity 41–3, 47, 82

  nerve, holding of 48–9

  nerves 220–1

  nutrition, see diet

  occupational hazards 230–1

  Olympics 244

  1000K GP 56

  one–two scores 105, 137, 280, 285

  open-wheeled 45

  overalls 216–17

  overdrive 114, 293

  oversteer 18, 53, 112, 168, 177, 178, 183, 202, 219, 304, 308–9

  overtaking rules 115–27

  panic attacks 221–5

  partying 64–8, 67, 202, 216, 237, 294–6

  peak condition 235–47

  pedals 102, 104, 110, 112, 165, 177, 231, 245, 305, 308

  Pérez, Checo 287, 288

  Pérez, Sergio 21

  Petersen Automotive Museum 200–1

  Petrov, Vitaly 262, 268, 272–3

  photo shoots 211, 216, 249

  physio 16, 230, 312

  ping-pong 54

  Pirelli 135, 179, 181, 183–4

  Pit Stop Bollock Drop 134

  pit stops 132, 133–42

  planes 85–7

  playboy lifestyle 63–8, 79–87, 250, 281

  PlayStation 164–5

  podium 9, 16, 42, 68, 119, 186, 192, 194–9, 216, 260, 262, 273, 282, 285, 289–90, 297–8, 318, 329

  pole position 18, 98, 99, 105–6, 160, 303

  Portakabin anecdote 267

  positioning 127–31

  post-breakfast 240–1

  post-lunch 241

  practice 309

  practice pit stops 133–4

  Premiership footballer 71, 72, 73, 120

  private jets (‘PJs’) 85–7

  Project Cars 2 170

  Prost, Alain 46, 74, 252, 286

  public relations (PR) 16, 76, 87, 211, 296 (see also Gough, Jules; Williamson, James)

  qualifying 16, 17–18, 35–6, 99, 103–8 passim, 113–14, 136, 186, 210, 216, 262, 272, 290, 292, 296, 298, 303–11 passim, 322

  race engineers 103, 142, 284

  racecraft 95

  racing line 114–15

  Räikkönen, Kimi 71, 136, 194, 196, 203, 213, 291

  rallying 45

  reaction time 102, 235

  rear end 104, 168, 308

  rear slide 96, 123

  Rebellion Racing 262, 273

  Red Bull Racing 69, 72, 105, 125, 126, 134, 146, 174, 176, 185, 192, 203, 285

  motorhome 325

  Ricciardo leaves 212

  Turkey (2010) 284

  ‘red-stop light’ rules 3

  relaxation 43, 47, 80, 82, 91–2, 154, 221, 225, 236, 244, 246, 311, 325

  Renault F1 74, 285

  rFactor 2 170

  Ricciardo, Daniel 66, 91, 209, 212, 285

  right foot 109, 110

  right-handers 20, 124

  risk 107, 116–17, 119, 121, 136–7, 142, 181, 211, 219, 225–6, 228, 252, 282, 293–4, 319, 326

 

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