WORLD BEATER JENSON TAKES CHEQUERED FLAG

F1 legend Button calls time on phenomenal racing career

- BY DANIEL MOXON

HE is one of Britain's great sporting heroes, and now Formula 1 champion Jenson Button's racing career has finally reached the end of the road.

The 2009 title-winner walked away from F1 in 2016 but has continued to compete, latterly in the World Endurance Championship. Next weekend's eighthour race in Bahrain will be his last professional drive.

Button remains well-known to the modern audience thanks to his sharp analysis as a Sky Sports pundit.

But those with longer memories know he is among an elite few Brits who have conquered the F1 world.

And an even smaller group who have gone up against Lewis Hamilton in a fair fight, and won.

Button established himself in F1 in the early 2000s with a Renault team that were just about to become the dominant force on the grid. He never got the chance to be a part of it, controversially axed by Flavio Briatore who installed in his place a young man named Fernando Alonso.