Button would like more celebrations after the races

Jenson Button believes that drivers are not free enough to celebrate with their teams and loved ones after a victory. The British driver, who won the first race of the 2012 season in Australia, regrets the time when drivers could notably wave their national flag or perform a few maneuvers on the track to excite the crowd.

«If I had my say, I would make sure that after a race, we could celebrate a victory better than we currently do. The fact is we have to be careful with our engine because it has to last a certain number of races, and with the gearbox, you can’t do donuts for the crowd. You can’t wave a flag. You can’t have moments like Nigel Mansell had at Silverstone. And in full euphoria, you’re torn away from your team, your family, and your friends, » Button told The Independent.

Even though doing donuts is prohibited by the rules, it hasn’t stopped some drivers from doing it in recent years, notably Mark Webber in Abu Dhabi in 2009, Sebastian Vettel in Japan last year, or Felipe Massa in front of his home crowd in 2011 as well – you can also rewatch this scene in the video below.

Button acknowledges that there are some moments to celebrate before the podium and the press conference, but they are too fleeting for him: « It’s obviously a very special feeling when you win a race. Yes, you can talk to your team on the radio, you can see your father, your girlfriend, and your mother, but you can’t actually see or touch them until a good hour and a half after the race. »

The 2009 world champion even believes that the emotional side is lacking in current F1: « It’s something our sport lacks. Seeing the emotions on a driver’s face in front of television cameras is a beautiful thing, but I think you need to see the right emotion when he is with his family, his friends, and his team at the true moment of triumph. »

However, he remains aware of time constraints, particularly those imposed by television broadcasts, but he believes there are currently too many constraints. « For now, you stop in the Parc Fermé, you embrace some team members, but you are often pushed to go and be weighed. I understand the reasons and the need for television coverage for the fans, but it’s something that drivers miss compared to what was available in the past. »

The McLaren driver would like a discussion to be held on this point to see what can be done: « It’s a delicate subject and obviously you need to find a balance, but it’s something we should manage better. It would create much more beautiful images on television to see the real emotion when it occurs spontaneously.»