Jenson Button, at 20 years of age, was the youngest British driver to debut in Formula One in 2000 and the tenth to win the Formula One World Drivers’ Championship in 2009. He won his first points in Formula One in only his second race in 2000 with the Williams team. He joined Benneton in 2001 which became Renault in 2002. In 2006 with Honda he took his first Grand Prix win in the Hungarian Grand Prix. An enjoyable book in many ways, and one that might just appeal to a whole lot more than afficianados of a selfish sport, I am happy to recommend How To Be An F1 Driver. The one obvious omission is the manoeuvring to get him out of the Williams contract, dealt with in a couple of paragraphs, which is the one thing that I would have liked to have seen expanded.

The book combines stories of growing up along with his racing career, right from his karting days and through Formula One, and goes deep into his relationship with his father. Some things that his fans would have liked to know have been left out or glossed over. How and why for example, was he labelled as a ‘playboy’? Why did he want to leave British American Racing (BAR) for Williams in 2004 even as he was enjoying his best season to date? Was the contract misread by his management team or was it BAR’s signing of the contract with Honda to supply the car engines.Along the way there's all the advice that may be useful to aspiring racers, all the stuff he wished he'd known years ago. From the importance of knowing how the car works to the best way to spray Champagne. Leginkább azt szerettem benne, hogy azok közé tartozott, aki meg tudott tervezni egy versenytávot. Sosem volt elég gyors egy körön, az időmérőkön rendre megverték, de azért az árulkodó tény, hogy amíg csapattársak voltak a McLarennél, addig összességében több pontot gyűjtött, mint a sportág jelenlegi királya, Lewis Hamilton (bár ez a többlet egy szezonban alakult ki igazából).

Often referred to by commentators in the past as an Ambassador for Formula I, one time world champion, Jenson Button reveals to the ardent fans a little of what goes on behind the scenes - the rivalry between team mates, the unrealistic expectations of rookie drivers who come in believing that speed is enough, the complexities of the car and changes that have occurred over the past couple of decades since Button first took the F1 car's wheel. In a relaxed conversational style, he talks about his personal drive, his father, his fatherhood to be, the ongoing love for motor sports and 'growing up'. For any F1 fan, this book is a fascinating insight into that racing world. I've always appreciated Jenson's sarcastic witty British humor. This book exposed so much stuff you don't hear about at the time and I learnt a lot about what went on within his teams, with his teammates (Jenson really spilled the tea when it came to Lewis) and especially with his team managers. Some of them were complete a-holes, to a young man who was working hard and just trying to make his dream a reality. Prime example is Flavio Briatore, director of Benetton at the time told the press that he thought Jenson was a lazy playboy and he looked as though he was driving around Monaco looking for an apartment to buy. THE VIOLATION IS IT NECESSARY??? NO In this book, Button recounts fun and interesting anecdotes throughout his career as an F1 driver and since his retirement from the sport - from humorous, tongue-in-cheek things such as buying a yacht (and why you shouldn’t do it), to discussing the mental and physical requirements of an F1 driver. Towards the end of the book, Button gets very emotional as he recounts his father’s death and the loss he felt. He reflects on how his father’s tragic passing left a massive void in his life and had him questioning his love for F1. The narration is moving and one feels for Button as one realises how much he adored his father. What we love about Life to the Limit: My Autobiography by Jenson Button If you know me at all, you will know that there’s two things I absolutely adore. Books and Formula 1. Books and reading have been a life-long love of mine, ever since I was too young to remember. Formula 1 is a relatively new crush, having only been introduced to it really within the last 3 years but 3 years could easily be 33 because I have enveloped myself in Formula 1 ever since my boyfriend introduced me to it and I’ve wanted to watch and learn and read everything I can about it. Now, I never miss a race, I could tell you the World Champion each year for the last 50 years more or less and I love a good Formula 1 documentary. But a Formula 1 book? That’s what I’m here for.Life to the Limit: My Autobiography’ by Jenson Button as a book is a lot like button in an F1 car – fast-paced and smooth, hitting all the apexes. On the podium at Abu Dhabi in 2010 when he'd won the Championship and thus taken it off me, he said, "I'm really happy to be standing up here with you, it really means a lot," which was a very cool moment, because the previous year we'd been on that same podium and I was world champion and he was the guy who has been fighting me for it. So, yes, we've always had a good relationship. I’ve always had a soft spot for JB. It may sound a strange thing to say about a former world champion but I’ve never felt he got the respect he deserved so I was interested to see what he’d have to say. While he may be being a bit diplomatic at times, you can hear his voice through the book, it doesn’t sound ghost written, it feels like his words put on paper.

Where How To Be An F1 Driver scores is in opening up an understanding just how much work ethic is involved in ever getting established in the elite sport. Despite the use of humour and an element of tongue frequently planted cheekside, the underlying message is one of application and cooperation... and not making too many mistakes. The author highlights this early in the book. Retired, but still a contracted driver, he was called in for one last race at Monaco. Frustrated at being in last place and faster than the car ahead, he attempted a passing move that saw the other car tipped over on its side, its driver's head against the armco barriers (but thankfully unhurt).How to be an F1 Driver, is a very enjoyable listen for any long time F1 fan. I personally enjoyed reading about the car controls, aerodynamics and downforce, written in so straightforward a way that even this totally non technical reader could understand. And I loved the anecdote about the race when Jenson could not remember how to start the car - he was in pole position, too, so no pressure .. I’ve recently read and reviewed Mark Webber‘s autobiography and Damon Hill‘s and I loved both of them. So when I heard that Jenson’s was coming out, it went straight to the top of my Christmas list. And as it happens, Santa popped it under my tree and before the Boxing Day turkey curry had even been cooked, I’d already started it. I’ve always liked Jenson, he’s very intelligent and great to listen to. He’s fun and likable and I was certainly a bit sad to see him leave Formula 1. But this book captures JB in the most literal sense. It’s so very “Jenson”. As with all the Formula 1 books I’ve read, this one was also as eye-opening. The stuff you don’t hear about at the time all comes to light in autobiographies when enough time has passed that nobody will care anymore (hopefully) and I learnt a lot about what went on within his teams, with his teammates and especially with his team managers. Naming no names, some of them were complete arseholes, to a young man who was working hard and just trying to make his dream a reality, for God’s sake. I never ever expected the golden boy of Formula 1 to be so relatable. "Finding my peace starts with a shot of coffee." Same Jenson same. This book captured the essence of Formula 1 in great detail and if you're a massive fan like me, you'll learn so much from it.