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Jenson Button is a Formula One driver currently in the employ of the BAR team. Though until 2004 he had not met with significant success, he scored five podium finishes in the first seven races of the 2004 season, and became the press's immediate up-and-coming favorite. Button, who has clinched third place in the 2004 drivers championship, will undoubtedly be a future challenger to the dominance of Ferrari ace Michael Schumacher.

Button was born on January 19, 1980, in Frome, Somerset, England. He became involved with karting at age eight, generally dominating every race in which he took part. In 1991, he won the British Cadet Kart Championship, taking first place in all 34 races. In 1997, he became the youngest driver ever to win the European Super A Championship. He switched from karts to cars in 19981998 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar), and was designated the International Year of the Ocean''. Events January January 1998 A massive ice storm, caused by El Nino, strikes New England, southern Ontario and Quebec, resulting, winning the British Formula Ford Championship that same year for Haywood Racing. Jenson entered Formula ThreeFormula Three is widely accepted as the first solid step on the road to Formula One. While a few drivers have gone on to drive in open-wheeled motorsports premier category since the inception of Formula Three without driving one, the majority have spent t in 1999For the album by Prince, see 1999 (album 1999 is a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar), and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the UN. Events Kosovo War Former child star Gary Coleman files for bankruptcy Y2K prep, winning two races and placing third in the British Championship.

In 2001, although still under contract with Williams, Button drove for Benetton, but he had quite a dismal season; the car, which was constantly under development that year, was never fast, nor was Jenson. He did, however, place fifth at the German Grand Prix, but fell to a disappointing seventeenth in the drivers championship that year.

Button behind the wheel for British American Racing at the 2004 US Grand Prix at Indianapolis In 2002, Benetton was purchased by, and renamed as, Renault, and Button proved to the world that 2001 was just bad luck. Though his teammate Jarno Trulli routinely outpaced him in qualifying, Button had the superior race pace. He barely missed third place (and his first podium) at the Malaysian Grand Prix, being passed by Michael Schumacher in the last lap due to a suspension failure in his BAR, instead finishing the race fourth. The Brazilian Grand Prix gave him another fourth place; he would finish seventh in that year's drivers championship.

In 2003, Button joined the BAR team alongside former world champion Jacques Villeneuve. A bit of bad blood arose between them when Villeneuve spoilt a points-finish for Button in the first race of the year (at the Australian Grand Prix) by coming into the pits when it was Button's turn to pit. This resulted in an season-long "war of words" in the press between the two BAR teammates. However, as the season progressed, Button's times were consistently better than Villeneuve's, his best result being a fourth place in Austria. Unfortunately, Button crashed heavily during Friday practice at Monaco, causing him to miss both the race and the following testing session at Monza. He finished ninth in the drivers championship that year with 17 points (11 points more than teammate Villeneuve).

In 2004, Button and BAR made a surprise jump to the top of the heap (beneath the ubiquitous Michael Schumacher and Ferrari). He finished the first race ( Australian Grand Prix) in sixth place after a brilliant qualifying session, and in Malaysia Button landed his first ever podium finish with a third place, which he reprised at the inaugural Bahrain Grand Prix. His (and BAR's) first pole position came in April at the San Marino Grand Prix, in which he finished second behind Schumacher. By clinching third place in the 2004 season with a total of 85 points, Button confirmed his position as a significant challenger to the F1 crown.

On August 5, 2004 Button announced that he had signed a two-year contract to return to Williams from the start of the 2005 season; an apparent loophole in his BAR contract permitted him to leave if Honda's commitment to the team was in any doubt. BAR boss David Richards promptly vowed to fight to keep his driver, though Sir Frank Williams maintained that the switch was entirely legal. The FIA Contract Recognition Board (CRB) held a hearing to determine Jenson's 2005 status on October 16 in Milan, Italy, concluding that he was contracted to BAR for the 2005 season.

Button is currently engaged to Fame Academy's Louise Griffiths . Like most Formula One drivers, Jenson resides in the principality of Monaco.