WATCH: Jenson Button’s spectacular charge to victory from P21 in the rain-drenched 2011 Canadian GP

Throwback to Jenson Button’s miracle drive at the 2011 Canadian Grand Prix

Jenson Button

While recalling the best races in modern Formula One history, the 2011 Canadian GP comes quickly to mind. The rain-induced, chaotic race at Giles Villeneuve Circuit is widely remembered as one of the longest races in F1. However, it is also remembered for McLaren driver Jenson Button’s monstrous comeback from P21 to winning the race.

Reigning champion Sebastian Vettel seemed in control for most of the race after qualifying on pole. Jenson Button, however, after getting his McLaren in P7, fell down the pack after a collision with his teammate Lewis Hamilton. He escaped punishment for this shunt but received a drive-through penalty for speeding behind the safety car; this put him way back in P21.

After 4 laps behind the safety car, the race raced resumed on lap 20. However, with the rain only getting heavier, a decision was made to red-flag the race. After no racing action for about 2 hours, it restarted. As the rain started to recede, Button was the first to switch to dry tires, pitting two laps ahead of Vettel. With 15 laps to go, Button found himself in P4.

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Button continued to hunt Vettel down, and a safety car to pick up debris after Nick Heidfeld’s crash only helped his case. With laps ticking down, the Brit tailing Vettel finally overtook him on the last lap after an error from the German driver. The Canadian GP ran for 4 hours and 4 minutes, making it the longest race Formula One had seen.

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Jenson Button endured a demanding race after six pit stops

Jenson Button’s collision with teammate Lewis Hamilton at the 2011 Canadian GP; Image credit: PlanetF1

A puncture after a collision forced the Brit to make an early pitstop on lap 8. On lap 13, after a collision with his McLaren teammate Lewis Hamilton, Button had to return to the pits to fix the damages he gained. As the rainfall intensified, intermediates were not going to the job anymore. Button realizing the urgency, pitted for wet tires, but coincided with the safety car; due to this, he dropped position from 8^th to 11^th.

After the race resumed from the red flag, Button opted for a fresh set of wets. On lap 35, McLaren decided to call in the Brit to reinstall his used intermediates as the rain comparatively softened. A crash between two cars on lap 37 resulted in a puncture again for the British driver, forcing him to pit for new intermediates.

?: "BUTTON LEADS THE GRAND PRIX!!!!" #OnThisDay in 2011, @JensonButton fought his way back from P21 to take a HUGE victory in the final laps of the #CanadianGP ?

One of the best races of all-time in Formula 1! ?#F1 @McLarenF1 pic.twitter.com/8b0gt2gsdg
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 12, 2023

Towards the end of the race, on lap 51, McLaren had a planned pit stop for Button, where he switched to dry tires, inspired by Mark Webber’s impressive times. At this point, Button in 10^th position, charged the field to clinch his first Canadian GP win.