Beating the odds

While race winner Mark Webber soaked Lewis Hamilton with Mumm, Jenson Button hugged his father John beneath the podium in Brazil on Sunday. It has been a long ride to the day when Jenson could shout, "I'm the world champion, baby!"

The Buttons understand very well the tiny details and lucky breaks that separate those who make it to Grand Prix stardom from others who sink into relative obscurity. Studying British talent a decade ago you would have been forgiven for putting others ahead of Button.

Jenson had finished third in the 1999 British Formula 3 Championship. This series has consistently highlighted future F1 stars. Sir Jackie Stewart, Emerson Fittipaldi, Nelson Piquet (senior), Ayrton Senna and Mika Hakkinen all won the F3 title in Britain and went on to be multiple F1 champions. Fully half the British F3 title winners of the past two decades (including Button's teammate this year at Brawn GP, Rubens Barrichello) made it into Grand Prix racing.