Former F1 driver and 2009 World Champion Jenson Button reflected on his relationship with Michael Schumacher. Button recalled one particular incident involving the 7 times World Champion after only his second podium in F1. The Briton revealed that he, Schumacher and David Coulthard had a crazy party after the 2004 Bahrain Grand Prix.
Jenson Button recalls a memorable night with Michael Schumacher
2004 was a turning point in Jenson Button’s career. He was no longer an inexperienced driver in Formula 1 and started putting in some mature drives for BAR. Button consistently finished in the points and sealed 10 podiums that season. 2004 was the final season of Ferrari’s dominance with Michael and Button emerged as an unlikely contender.
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The Briton helped BAR secure second position in the Constructors’ Championship and Jenson himself finished third in the Driver’s Championship.
As a result, the British driver had the chance to share a podium with Michael Schumacher on several occasions. Speaking to F1’s Beyond the Grid podcast, Button revealed his experience of racing against Michael Schumacher.
“Michael I’m sure for his close friends, people could understand him, but for an outsider, he was reasonable difficult to understand as an individual”
“I had some great fights with Michael on the circuit, I [also] had some great evenings out with Michael as well”
Button revealed that the German driver had rented one of the on-track Villas during the 2004 Bahrain Grand Prix. After the race, the Brit enjoyed a memorable night with the 7 times Champion and David Coulthard.
“I remember Bahrain ’04- my second podium, there were Villas that you could rent and they were 5 grand a night and I think either Michael or DC had one”
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“We went partying after the race – smoking cigars and singing karaoke and I got sent the picture by Jules, my PA”
“Lovely picture to have of two absolute legends of the sport”
When things really took off for Jenson
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Button didn’t get his first win until 2006 at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The Briton kept his cool in challenging conditions to take an unlikely victory in Budapest. However, Jenson had to wait a little longer for his first World Championship in F1.
Jenson clinched the 2009 World Championship with Brawn Gp in style and fulfilled a lifelong dream.