Jenson Button's British Grand Prix record

05 July 2016 05:23

Jenson Button will take part in his 17th British Grand Prix on Sunday in an unlikely bid to end his Formula One hoodoo.

While the 36-year-old has earned 50 podium finishes from nearly 300 grands prix starts, he has never popped a celebratory champagne cork in his 16 previous Silverstone appearances.

Here, Press Association Sport tracks Button's British Grand Prix curse.

2000 - 5th

Button, in only his fourth grand prix, delighted the home crowd after he qualified alongside Michael Schumacher on the third row of the grid. The 20-year-old Williams driver then benefited from pole-sitter Rubens Barrichello's hydraulics failure to finish an impressive fifth.

2001 - 15th

Perhaps in a sign of things to come, Button, now racing for Benetton, could qualify only 18th, more than three seconds down on pole-sitter Michael Schumacher. He ended the race in 15th, two laps behind winner Mika Hakkinen, and with only one classified runner behind him - Fernando Alonso, who was in his debut campaign for lowly Minardi.

2002 - DNF

An improvement on his home race 12 months previously, Button started from 12th. He was running in the points before he pitted for a third time as he struggled on the Michelin tyre. He then retired from the race on lap 55 after a suspension failure.

2003 - 8th

Started from the back of the pack after sustaining yet another suspension failure, this time in qualifying, but the Englishman, now driving for BAR, turned in a stellar display to finish eighth in a dramatic race which saw a protester storm the track.

2004 - 4th

Button arrived at his home race with six podiums already under his belt for the season. And after qualifying third he looked likely to net a seventh in front of his home crowd. But Michael Schumacher, who started from fourth, finished ahead of Button to leave the Briton one place shy of a podium finish.

2005 - 5th

For the second consecutive year, Button qualified third, but he was promoted one place after Kimi Raikkonen was hit with a 10-place grid drop. Starting on the front row, hopes were high that Button could record his first podium finish at Silverstone. But the BAR man could not keep up with the McLarens and Renaults during the race and finished fifth.

2006 - DNF

A dismal weekend for Button. A strategical mix-up in qualifying saw him start a lowly 19th before his Honda engine gave up on him after only eight laps.

2007 - 10th

Button had quickly become Britain's forgotten F1 driver following the supersonic arrival of Lewis Hamilton. During another catastrophic campaign for Honda, Button qualified only 18th before progressing to 10th, one lap down on race winner Raikkonen and Hamilton, who finished third and on the podium on his British Grand Prix debut.

2008 - DNF

Another British Grand Prix to forget for Button who could manage only 17th in qualifying before spinning off in the wet after 38 laps. His Honda team-mate Rubens Barrichello finished third while Hamilton stormed to a brilliant victory in the awful conditions.

2009 - 6th

What a difference a year makes. Button headed into his 10th British Grand Prix leading the world championship having won six of the opening seven races for Brawn. It was fairytale stuff, but there was no end to Button's search for an elusive podium as he started and finished sixth.

2010 - 4th

Now at McLaren, Button endured a miserable qualifying session to leave him only 14th. He turned in an emphatic performance to move up 10 places, but was unable to pass the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg in the closing stages to seal that podium spot. The gap between the two drivers at the chequered flag: just 0.679secs.

2011 - DNF

Button started the race in promising fashion, moving up one place to fourth. But the McLaren man began to fall back through the pack. He then emerged from his pit-stop with a loose wheel and was unable to continue.

2012 - 10th

Button was unable to find a clear track in the wet at Silverstone and qualified a miserable 18th - his chances of finishing on the podium over before they had got going. He clawed back time during the race but could finish only 10th.

2013 - 13th

McLaren did not have much to shout about in 2013 and their fortunes failed to improve at their home grand prix. Button started 10th but he was unable to do any better during the race, ultimately finishing 13th.

2014 - 4th

So close, yet so far as Button finished fourth at the British Grand Prix for the third time. The 2009 world champion started from third after taking advantage of the inclement conditions in qualifying. Yet despite his very best efforts, and cheered on by the patriotic home crowd - most of whom were wearing pink in tribute to Button's father John who died earlier that year - he fell narrowly short of catching and passing Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo in the closing stages.

2015 - DNF

A miserable year for Button and McLaren was typified at Silverstone where the Englishman failed to make it beyond turn three after a collision with team-mate Fernando Alonso.

Source: PA