Button looks to defend world title

The National staff

• Last Updated: October 20. 2009 9:34PM UAE / October 20. 2009 5:34PM GMT

The newly-crowned Formula One world champion Jenson Button has revealed how his father’s pessimism fired him up to make it big in the sport and, now that he has, he will prove he is not a “one-hit wonder”.

Button was driving back with his parents from a kart race when he was eight years old when he overheard his father, John, telling his mother: “I don’t think the boy has it.”

Not only did Button make it, but at 29, he became the 10th Briton to win the title with a fifth place finish at the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday. The Brawn driver has an unassailable lead over his rivals with just the final race in Abu Dhabi to come.

“I used it as a spur but I didn’t want to embarrass the old man, so I kept it quiet,” Button said after achieving the feat.

Button is yet to sign on a new deal, but with the title under his belt, he promised there was more to come with the team that has sensationally risen out of the ashes of Honda’s decision to pull out of the sport last December.

“This team is not a one-hit wonder. And neither am I,” Button said.

“It’s great to win the world championship and every person that’s done it will tell you that. But to be able to defend it is exceptional. No British driver has ever won back to back titles – so that’s an ambition.”

“I would like to stay with Brawn. The team might have changed names and it might have shrunk in size but I love the atmosphere of this team and the way that we all pull together in the difficult times – and we’ve been through a lot of difficult times in the past.”

Button said it had always been his and the team’s intention to wait until after the title was decided before sitting down to discuss a new deal.

“It’s not about the money. I have become world champion with a team that nobody ever thought would win, but there are many things that we need to talk about.”

* With agencies