Jenson Button torches McLaren over ‘disrespectful’ image snub

A former Formula 1 world champion has torched his old team after being left out of the team’s celebrations of a massive milestone.

Jenson Button took aim at his former team over a shock snub. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

2009 Formula One World Champion Jenson Button has blasted his former team on social media after a celebratory image left him off, despite having started the second most Grands Prix in the history of the team.

Button raced for McLaren from 2010 to 2016, on top of a one-off return at Monaco in 2017, and won eight races for the team, finishing 2nd in the 2011 World Championship.

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The team took to social media to celebrate Oscar Piastri’s finish at the Qatar Grand Prix, which marked the team’s 500th podium in Formula One.

McLaren are one of the most storied teams in the history of the sport, having had entries dating back as far as 1966, and while Button is one of their most decorated drivers, he was nowhere to be seen.

The graphic included the likes of James Hunt and Ayrton Senna, as well as rookie Oscar Piastri, but Button was forgotten.

Button won eight Grands Prix with McLaren, more than the likes of Niki Lauda and Fernando Alonso. AFP PHOTO/Peter PARKS

The graphic made up by McLaren Racing celebrating 500 podiums, with Button nowhere to be seen. Photo: Twitter

Button, now a Sky Sports pundit after a 17-year career in the sport, took to social media himself for a cheeky response.

“My 26 podiums for you guys obviously don’t count so it’s only 475,” Button wrote on Twitter.

Button’s win in Montreal in 2011 is still considered one of the greatest drives in the history of the sport, starting in seventh behind the safety car and fighting punctures, penalties and a crash with Lewis Hamilton to win from 21st position at one point.

Fans were livid in support of the well-liked Button.

One fan called it disrespectful, noting Button had more podiums than most of the drivers who were included in the piece.

“They even put Sainz but not Jenson,” the fan wrote on social media.

“He has more podiums than most of the drivers shown on the poster and he drove for them for 8 years. This is way too disrespectful to him.”

McLaren overlooked Button. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

Piastri made the cut. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

The post from McLaren came after a historic drive from young rookie Piastri, who recorded his best ever finish in a Grand Prix, coming second after a victory in the Sprint race.

“It was so hot. With three stops, it was flat out every lap so it was like 57 qualifying laps … I’m happy, but it was the hardest race of my life,” Piastri, reflecting the feelings of all the drivers, said.

Max Verstappen, meanwhile, cruised to another race victory after leading from start to finish in a scorching race.

The Red Bull superstar wrapped up the driver’s title on Sunday during the sprint race and only added to his lead with another dominant showing.

Originally published as Jenson Button torches McLaren over ‘disrespectful’ image snub