Former Formula One driver Jenson Button has revealed that at the end of 2008 following Honda’s decision to leave the sport that he spoke to Red Bull Racing Team Principal and CEO Christian Horner about a drive.
Speaking during an appearance on ITV’s This Morning Show this week ahead of the debut of Brawn: The Impossible Formula 1 Story on Disney + on Wednesday 15th November Button revealed that he spoke with Christian Horner about driving for Red Bull Racing or Toro Rosso (Scuderia AlphaTauri) in 2009 but was told that all the contracts were in place.
Button revealed that he and his manager, Richard Goddard, approached ex-Honda Team Principal Ross Brawn and Sporting Director Nick Fry about purchasing the team.
In his book, ‘My Championship Year‘, Button revealed that on Thursday December 4, 2008, he was at Gatwick Airport having been at a training camp in Lanzarote and had a voicemail from Richard to say they had to talk.
The day that Honda Racing pulled out of Formula One, Ross Brawn contacted Mercedes-Benz as the 2009 car was due to be the first car that Brawn had worked on.
The team announced that Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello would race for the team and when they drove the car both drivers felt the car was quick.
Ahead of the opening race of the season, Richard Brand struck a deal for his Virgin company to sponsor the team.
Button won the race while Rubens Barrichello finished the race in second place.
(Video courtesy of Hulu via YouTube.com)
The four-part Brawn: The Impossible Formula 1 Story hosted by Hollywood actor Keanu Reeves tells the incredible story of Ross Brawn, Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello and how they dominated the 2009 Formula One season.