Button Sports Personality of the Year runner-up
Button came in second place ahead of Jessica Ennis
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By Matt Hallam. |  |
Sunday, 13, Dec 2009 08:36
By Adam Leveridge
Jenson Button took the runner-up spot at the coveted BBC Sports Personality of the Year award ceremony in Sheffield, in the same week as being crowned the 2009 formula one world champion at an FIA gala in Monaco.
Ryan Giggs took the honour of BBC Sports Personality of the Year and Button came second of the ten sports men and women nominated for the award, including 15-year old world diving champion Tom Daly and heavyweight boxing champion of the world David Haye.
The show was broadcast live on the BBC and the winner was decided through a public vote that took place during the proceedings, which came from the Sheffield Arena and was hosted by Sue Barker, Gary Linekar and F1 host Jake Humphrey.
Before the result was revealed, Button recalled the moment he clinched his drivers' title at Interlagos in Brazil and the challenges he and the Brawn GP team have faced over the past year.
"There was an incredible outpouring of emotion the day I won the world championship in Brazil and the reason for it was because we have been through so much this season," said Button.
"Every single person at Brawn worked 100 per cent to get to the first race in Melbourne - being there was a massive achievement for us.
"So, coming away with the championship was an incredible achievement and it was a very special moment.
"I've been racing in F1 for ten years now and I thought my career was over as I had no other options.
"But we all pulled together to stay racing in 2009. Little did we know what we could achieve.
"20 years ago I started racing in Go-karts in a pub carpark and today I'm standing here as F1 world champion, so it's very special."
If button had won the coveted prize, he would have joined an illustrious line-up of former world champions and F1 legends, including John Surtees , Sir Stirling Moss and Damon Hill .
F1 commentary legend Murray Walker sang Button's praises before the ceremony, saying: "Jenson is quite exceptional in what he has done this year, at Christmas 2008 he was nothing.
"He has scored points in all but one of the races this year, he is a lovely bloke and he would be a supremely worthy sports personality of the year."
Brawn GP also missed out on the Team of the Year award to the England Cricket squad who took a sensational Ashes victory in 2009.