Sport : F1

Button at one with the outdoors

5th July 2012, 07:28am

Jenson Button: Relishing British GP

Jenson Button: Relishing British GP

Jenson Button is ready to camp it up this weekend and immerse himself in the full British Grand Prix experience.

Button will join an expected crowd of 28,000 people in camping around Silverstone over the course of the next few days.

The McLaren star, however, will have the edge on many given he will be staying in his luxury motorhome.

For Button, though, being so close to the circuit, and with many other drivers alongside him, helps make the weekend.

With the smell of woodfires, coffee and sizzling bacon hanging around in the morning, Button said: "The British Grand Prix is very much like that.

"It's different to most races, and one which reminds me of my karting days, although obviously on a bigger scale.

"But when we used to go karting, we used take the caravan and have barbecues in the evening.

"So at Silverstone I love the drivers' camp. It's one of the only races where we get a good percentage of the drivers staying within the circuit in motorhomes.

"For me, that atmosphere is what it's all about. They have it in NASCAR and IndyCar, but we don't have that in Formula One.

"All the drivers go their separate ways in the evenings, whereas at the British Grand Prix they all stay together, have barbecues.

"Then there are the fans. They are really close to where we are. We don't have an area where it's guarded or anything.

"It's a long way from Monaco, but I love it, and when you have good weather it is the best grand prix on the calendar.

"It becomes a massive event with a really good atmosphere, it's not just about you going to win a grand prix."

Uppermost in Button's mind, however, is finally ridding himself of his British GP jinx as he has yet to finish on the podium in 12 attempts.

The best Button has managed over the years has been two fourths, with last year indicative of his bad luck when a front wheel was not pitted properly at a pit stop and he was forced to pull over yards from the McLaren garage.

"I've always thought about what it would be like to win the British Grand Prix. I've imagined it, of course," said the 32- year-old to Press Association Sport.

"You never know what it will be like until it happens. When I was a kid I thought about racing at Monaco and winning that race.

"And I did it in style by parking in the wrong place and running to the start-finish line. I didn't know I was going to do that.

"Of course, I haven't even been on the podium yet, but winning it would be very special for me.

"I want to win it. That has to be my aim for this weekend, and it would be something to give to the fans."

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