“Ich habe 285 Rennen verloren”: Jenson Button on mental strain

– Jenson Button speaks openly in the “Beyond The Grid” podcast about how mentally demanding Formula 1 is for its drivers. After all, the winning rate of the world’s best pilots is comparatively low.

Read more After near catastrophe: Porsche driver punished, end for “Girls only”

“In Formula 1, I have competed in 300 Grand Prix races and was able to win 15 of them,” said the 2009 world champion. “That means: I lost 285 races.”

Such rates are no comparison to the winning streaks with which the Verstappens, Leclercs, or Hamiltons grow up from karting.

The highest winning rate in Formula 1 history is held by Juan Manuel Fangio. After all, the five-time champion managed to win about 47 percent of his race participations in the Formula 1 World Championship.

In the podcast, Button describes that it was not least the calm nature of Ross Brawn that helped him immensely: “I think his calm manner was really important on bad days,” said the former Brawn driver.

“I believe no one can make you a better racing driver. It is up to you alone to conquer your demons. People can listen, and I think then you have to do that as a boss too. Listen to your driver, but don’t be too opinionated.”

Read more The Lotus Emira will soon get more power and less weight

The Briton’s world championship title is a prime example of the mental pitfalls of Formula 1. Six of the first seven season races went to Button, while the second half of the season almost turned into a fiasco. Constant

Speculation about whether the later McLaren driver was really up to the pressure did not make the situation easier for Button. Nevertheless, the crown went to today’s Sky expert at the end of 2009.

“In the end, it’s about losing more than you win. Last year, I talked with Roger Federer about sports and the mental strain involved. He said to me: ‘Well, you would think I am the most successful tennis player of all time. But I have lost 75 percent of my matches, and that is a really good rate.'”

The same rule applies, as Button emphasizes, to the seven-time champion at Ferrari: “What Lewis Hamilton has achieved is extraordinary, but he has still lost more than he has won. And that’s why in every sport where you lose more than you win, it’s mentally damn difficult.”

By the way, the Briton’s estimate is not entirely correct. Instead of 300, Button has raced 309 races in his Formula 1 career. Accordingly, he has not lost 285 races, but 294.

Read more MotoGP in Miami? Ezpeleta slows expectations: Safety takes priority