Last lap drama, Monaco sprints, regenmeister: Button's top F1 drives

Jenson Button has arguably produced some of the best drives in modern Formula 1 history.

While he was dismissed as a "playboy" in his early years by cut-throat team boss Flavio Briatore at Benetton, the British driver went on to impress in the early years racing for Honda.

He had to wait 113 races before he earned his first victory, but that was followed up three years later with an extraordinary title run at the wheel of the Brawn GP 001.

Button went on to race alongside Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, who he held his own against before electing to hang up his helmet at the end of the 2016 season.

On the occasion of his 44th birthday, RacingNews365 takes a look at some of his best drives.

2010 Australian Grand Prix

It was perhaps a stroke of luck that F1 TV cut to Button running off the track after he pitted for slicks during the opening stages of the Australian GP in 2010.

Everyone started on Intermediates in the slippery conditions, but the trick was getting the crossover right to dry tyres on the Bridgestones.

When Button pitted and ran wide it essentially confirmed to all the teams that it was too early. But by the time Button had finished the lap he was quickest on track, and it was too late for the others to pit without losing track position.

While everyone else pitted he stayed out and took an iconic first victory for McLaren.

2000 German Grand Prix

Another wet race for Button, this time at Hockenheim where he qualified 16th in a field of 22 cars but was forced to start from the back due to an engine failure on the formation lap.

As the rain came down, he worked his way up to tenth - with the help of a few safety cars and retirements - and pitted for wet tyres with 12 laps to go. The timing turned out to be perfect, as it enabled him to climb up the order to fourth place and finish just 1.5 seconds off a podium.

2009 Brazilian Grand Prix

Button's standout drive during the Brazilian Grand Prix in 2009 which sealed his F1 title that year was the drive of a champion.

A poor qualifying performance in the wet conditions put him low down the order in 14th, while title rival and teammate Rubens Barrichello took pole.

Like a man possessed, Button charged his way through the field and made some aggressive moves at Turn 1. That race was also the emergence of Kamui Kobayashi, who put up a stern defence against Button before he made his way past to seal his championship and finish fifth.

2009 Monaco Grand Prix

One of the finest laps around Monaco during qualifying was topped off with a textbook drive to victory around the famous streets for Button.

This race is iconic for another thing, which was him parking in the wrong spot at the end and having to run the length of the pit straight after 78 laps around the principality.

It was his fifth victory in a row that season, with him going on to take a further race win at Turkey during Brawn's stellar start.

2011 Canadian Grand Prix

You can't put together a list of best drives for Button and not mention the four-hour epic that was the 2011 Canadian Grand Prix. A race that was so long it prompted a rule change.

Button was in every position during that race, first having received a drive-thru penalty for speeding under Safety Car after taking out teammate Hamilton which put him last.

At the restart he had to pit after a collision with Alonso gave him a puncture, and dropped him to last again. After a lengthy red flag period he was one of the few drivers to make the switch to dry tyres in the changeable conditions, enabling him to pass Mark Webber and Michael Schumacher for the podium spots.

All that sat between him and victory was Sebastian Vettel. On the final lap he was chasing the Red Bull driver, when he made a mistake with six corners left and went wide on a damp patch. Button took the lead and with it sealed one of the best victories in modern F1.