Despite coming from a very humble background, the talent that Lewis Hamilton showed pulled people towards him to help him. According to his father, Anthony, one such man was John Button, Jenson Button’s father. Without John, Lewis probably wouldn’t have even graduated from the lowest categories of karting.
In Lewis’ biography, author Frank Worrall quoted Anthony Hamilton as saying, “In those early days we were very lucky in finding some very gentlemanly personalities in karting, who really helped us when money was tight early in his career. We had Martin Hines helping us out with the chassis, John Davies and John Button [Jenson’s father] helping us out with the engine, and an old friend Martin Howells supplying us with tires. If it wasn’t for guys like that, I don’t think Lewis would have got off the lowest rung of the karting ladder.”
Jenson’s father, as Anthony revealed, used to help around with the engine components on Lewis’s kart. Naturally, with the trajectory that the 38-year-old has taken, he hasn’t disappointed even a single person who put their faith in him to succeed.
Moreover, there was even a running joke between the two families that the Hamiltons owed the Buttons $370. Soon afterward, McLaren took Lewis under their wings, while a young Jenson Button was already making a name for himself.
The underrated partnership between Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button
By the time 1998 came around, Lewis Hamilton was attached to the McLaren young driver’s program. On the other hand, Jenson Button became a Formula 1 driver just two years later when he drove for the Williams F1 team in 2000.
Hamilton’s and Button’s respective F1 careers have had their own highlights. After making his debut in 2007, Hamilton went on to win the world championship in 2008. Just a year later, Button clinched his maiden F1 title at the 2009 Brazilian GP with the famed and iconic Brawn GP team.
Their professional paths would soon cross again. McLaren signed the two of them up to become teammates in 2010. From then until 2012, both Hamilton and Button drove for the iconic British team.
Both of them went on to pick up several podiums and race victories. To this day, many believe that the driver pairing of Hamilton and Button at McLaren was one of the most competitive ever.
Despite recent speculation about a potential move to Ferrari, it seems likely that Hamilton will continue his partnership with Mercedes for a 12th consecutive season. When asked about his future with the team, the F1 driver replied, “I haven’t signed anything yet, but I think we’re thinking of meeting with Toto tomorrow, so hopefully we can get something done.”
In an interaction with Sky Sports F1, Toto Wolff echoed Hamilton’s statement, mentioning the need to find some time for a meeting. He emphasized that the process would only take around half an hour.
Hamilton emphasized that his reference to a meeting was not intended as a subliminal hint. He also shared his opinion that settling his future with Mercedes would enable him to concentrate more on leading the team forward. He acknowledged that contract negotiations are never far from one’s thoughts and that once they are finished, he can fully focus on the future.
He stated: “I’ve got a great, great, great team around me both off track and on track.”
His words showed commitment to the team as he praised their desire for success despite the ongoing discussions. Observing the team members’ excitement, he thought the podium finish in the Spanish Grand Prix was particularly memorable. He deeply appreciated their dedication to finding strategies to win the upcoming race and their strong work ethic.
Lewis Hamilton is hopeful that his contract talks with Toto Wolff will result in a new agreement for the 2024 season. He and Wolff have already held multiple meetings, and while Hamilton hasn’t signed anything yet, he is optimistic about reaching a resolution. Hamilton remains focused on his performance and is impressed by the team’s determination and drive for success.
