Jenson Button snubbed Lewis Hamilton when naming his ‘toughest’ opponent in Formula 1

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Only four drivers in the history of Formula 1 took part in more races than Jenson Button.

After making his debut for Williams in 2000, Jenson Button didn’t officially leave F1 until after a one-off appearance replacing Fernando Alonso at McLaren for the 2017 Monaco Grand Prix.

Alonso, Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Raikkonen and Rubens Barrichello outlasted Button, but it meant that the 2009 world champion raced against a wide spectrum of drivers on the grid.

His earliest F1 memories would have included a lot of flashbacks to Michael Schumacher standing on the top step of the podium for Ferrari.

Alonso was the next man to put his stamp on the sport before Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel etched their names in Formula 1 history.

Button’s remarkable Brawn GP season intersects their eras of domination and saw him become a lynchpin at McLaren during one of their more difficult periods.

The Brit recalled his career in Formula 1 in the book Life To The Limit and talked about some of his most difficult opponents on the grid.

While the likes of Hamilton and Schumacher were at their peaks during his time on the grid, he instead chose Alonso as his toughest competitor in Formula 1, both during their tough time together at McLaren and before when they were simply rivals at different teams.

Jenson Button says ‘well-rounded’ Fernando Alonso was his toughest F1 opponent

Button was recalling the end of his time in Formula 1 when he and Alonso were teammates at an ailing McLaren team.

Speaking about his battle with the Spaniard, he said: “I’d still feel as though I’d won the race if I beat Fernando, which meant I always had something to race for.

“And he was a great competitor. In fact, I would say over the years Fernando had been one of if not the toughest competitors I’d faced, both as a teammate and a rival at other teams.

“Lewis was unbelievably quick and could pull a lap out of the bag like that.

“Him and Ayrton Senna were the quickest guys over one lap maybe ever, but Fernando was the most well-rounded driver.

READ MORE: Why Lewis Hamilton was left ‘peeved’ when Jenson Button arrived at McLaren as his F1 teammate

“I’d know even if I outqualified him he’d still be tough to beat in a race.

“He’s nice on the outside, really affable and approachable, but beneath that, he’s a very tough competitor who will do anything to beat you.

“In all, a good teammate to have a bloody tough to beat. I enjoyed the two years we spent together.”

Fernando Alonso chasing third world championship 19 years after latest triumph

Alonso could argue that he’s had one of the unluckiest careers in the history of Formula 1.

Alonso’s point-less Minardi season highlighted his immense potential and under the management of Flavio Briatore, he was handed a championship-winning car at Renault in 2005 and 2006.

Every move since that 2006 campaign ended has ended with him missing out on his goal of adding to his tally of world championships.

READ MORE: Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso’s life outside F1 from net worth to Cars 2

Ferrari never delivered a top car for Alonso during his time with the Scuderia and two separate spells at McLaren ended poorly.

He’s now at Aston Martin but after showing signs of promise in 2023 have fallen away.

The 2026 season is the final year Alonso is contracted to the team and he’ll be hoping that the change in regulations will give him one last chance to stand on the top step of the podium.