Brits on Pole

The Jenson Button and Brawn GP gift and present guide

This was the year that Jenson Button went from the ‘nearly man’ of Formula One to Britain’s tenth world champion, thanks to the remarkable transformation of his team – and his ability to seize the chance for glory.

Jenson Button, world champion

But Brawn GP – created from the ashes of the defunct Honda team – proved to be the ultimate one-hit wonder, transforming into Mercedes GP after the German car giant bought a controlling stake. And JB himself, of course, is on his way to McLaren.

So when it comes to Brawn GP gifts, presents and merchandise it’s now or never. Once these are gone, there won’t be any more.

Fortunately, there’s quite a range to choose from.

From Jenson Button tshirts and Brawn GP caps, to flags, prints, calendars and diecast models, there’s something for everyone – adult, child, armchair fan and active racegoer.

Plus, if you fancy a bit of retro-chic, there are still a few bits and pieces around from Button’s Honda, BAR, Williams and even Benetton days – so you can show the world you were a fan even when he wasn’t driving a winning car.

Here’s our guide to what’s on offer, where you can find it, and how much it will cost you.

Retailers

Some retailers have whole sections dedicated to Jenson Button or Brawn merchandise, so if you’re looking for a good general browse try the following:

• OnPole.com is a great destination if you want to get your hands on Jenson Button prints and models as well as the more usual merchandise and it also has a dedicated Brawn GP products section.
• Kitbag’s F1 pages include separate sections for Jenson Button merchandise and official Brawn GP products.

Accessorising, the JB way

Clothing

Brawn’s range of caps and shirts was pretty basic when the team was first set up – presumably, there were other more pressing concerns – but it grew during the season and the addition of sponsor Henri Lloyd helped too. Here are a few of the items available:

• Jenson victory cap, £24.99. A little bit different from the standard Brawn cap, this off-white, red and blue cap has a real retro feel to it.
• ‘Jenson 22′ tracksuit top, £59.99 (at OnPole.com, reduced from £74.99 at time of writing). Charcoal-grey with the ‘Jenson 22′ logo and the Union Flag on the left chest, this is a subtle and understated item that still shows where your loyalties lie.
• Classic white Brawn GP tshirt, £19.99 (at OnPole.com, reduced from £24.99 at time of writing). Pretty much the first item the team released, and so the most well-known. A white tshirt with the team logo, and the now-famous (and soon to disappear) acid yellow and black stripe down the side.

Models, memorabilia and collectibles

Rare and a bit pricey, but highly collectible and impressive enough when displayed on the shelf or wall, these replicas and prints fill the space between toy shop models and posters on the one hand, and bank-breaking one-off items on the other.

• 1:12 scale replica BGP001 nose cone, £69.99. A detailed, hand-made reproduction of the nose and front wing of Button’s and Barrichello’s race-winning car by Amalgam, with base and presentation box. Available at OnPole from “early December”.
• Half-sized replica Jenson Button race helmet, £69.99, or £269.99 if signed by Button. This replica of Jenson’s Bell helmet comes in the yellow-and-black colour scheme he used for much of the season in preference to his usual red, white and blue. The signed version comes with a certificate of authenticity.
• Framed photo-montage from Spanish GP, £69.99. Relive Button’s Spanish triumph with this 76cm x 42cm double-framed set of three photos from the race and the celebrations afterwards.

Button fans at a Silverstone campsite

Race day

The British Grand Prix is safe and will be at Silverstone – which means the difficult choice between new McLaren Rocket Red Button gear and loyalist black, yellow and white Brawn GP stuff. Mind you, last year we saw someone in a BAR cap, so whichever you pick someone’s going to be cooler. The McLaren stuff won’t be available until the New Year, though, while the Brawn gear is here now.

• Jenson Union Flag, £14.99. Jenson’s own version of the flag in red, white and blue, with his personal Button logo, so you can fly it at Silverstone next year even though he’ll be with McLaren by then.
• Brawn GP lanyard, £4.99. Only the eagle-eyed will spot it, but this lanyard will keep that paddock pass you wangled on show – while also declaring your loyalties to Brawn GP.
• Brawn GP backpack, £39.99. Ideal for your sandwiches and waterproof on race day – but, like most of the team’s merchandise (and unlike that from a lot of its rivals) this sturdy backpack is stylish enough to wear away from the track without embarrassment.

Jenson on parade for Honda in 2008

Past teams

Jenson Button hasn’t been short of teams in his career – from his start with Williams, he went on to Benetton, Renault, BAR, Honda, Brawn and – from next year – McLaren. Bits and pieces of memorabilia and merchandise still exists from those days, and here is some of it.

• Signed Honda print, £209.99. Caught in action on his way to fourth place in the 2006 Bahrain Grand Prix, this is Jenson in the Lucky Strike Honda that qualified third and led for a lap. Autographed.
• ‘First win’ diecast model, £29.99. Made by Minichamps to celebrate Button’s Hungarian Grand Prix victory in 2006, this 1:43 scale model of the Honda Racing F1 Team RA106 also includes a standing figure of its winning driver.
• Signed Benetton photo, £19.56. A 15cm by 21cm signed photo from 2001 of a rather youthful Button in the blue race suit of Benetton’s F1 team.
• British F3 Dallara diecast model, £29.99. A reminder of the days when Button was just another hopeful young British driver, this 1:43 Minichamps model is of the Dallara Sodemo Renault F399 that he drove in British F3 and at Macau.

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