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Jenson Button crowned Formula One world champion
19 Oct 2009Jenson Button won the Formula One world title becoming the 10th British driver to claim motor sport's greatest prize.
Button, 29, came fifth in a pulsating Brazilian Grand Prix, which gave him enough points to inherit the title from last year's winner, Lewis Hamilton.
On a stunning day for Northamptonshire-based Brawn GP, they also claimed the constructors' title just over 10 months after they appeared to be on the scrapheap when Honda pulled out of the sport.
As Button crossed the line after 71 remarkable laps at Interlagos he broke into a rendition of Queen's We Are The Champions, before repeating the boast "We're champions, we're champions".
He told the BBC: "It's really amazing, especially after the last few races I've had. This one makes up for it.
"It was just such an awesome race and I'm world champion, baby.
"Twenty-one years ago I jumped in a car and I loved winning. I never expected to be world champion because you think racing drivers in Formula One are different to you but we've done it today."
Button's father, John, admitted the victory brought tears to his eyes.
He told the BBC: "I'm all washed out at the moment. I've got to accept where he is now, he goes down in history with all the other great names.
"I haven't got my head round that yet.
"We had a big squeeze and we were crying in there and he was crying on the radio in the car, which is not my son at all because he's a hard man obviously."
Button could be given the freedom of his home town in Somerset in honour of his world championship F1 win.
Mayor of Frome Damon Hooton said the council would decide how to celebrate Button's achievements and honorary freedom of the town could be an option.
Mr Hooton said: "It was the drive of his life, a fantastic drive and he really deserves it.
"It is a marvellous time for him and his family and so many people in Frome have supported him all the way.
"He has put Frome on the map, he is the Frome Flyer and wherever he is talked about Frome is mentioned.
"He comes back to the town quite a lot to visit his family so everybody feels as if they know him, and he accepts that everyone wants to be his best mate."
Mr Hooton said after the celebrations the council would sit down and decide how to honour Button.
"There will be recognition for what Jenson has done for sport and for Frome," he said.
"We can give honorary freedom of the town but I wouldn't want to pre-empt a committee decision.
"We'll get the elation and the emotion over and done with and then consider what we can do for Jenson."
Celebrations at the Crown Hotel in Market Place were under way before Button crossed the finish line.
The pub, where Button is a regular, was adorned with good luck banners while customers packed inside to watch the race unfold on a big screen.
Reader views (2)
St, London - well done for focusing on an irrelevant detail and not on Jensons' personal achievement. Lets face it, if you earned what he does and had the lifestyle he has, would you live in the UK? I wouldn't. Congratulations to him! Well deserved
- Paul, Chatham, UK, 19/10/2009 12:46
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It's a bit of a shame he pays no tax to support the poor and needy in "his" country as I expect his earnings will now rise quite dramatically.
- St, London, 19/10/2009 09:27
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