Jenson Button was officially awarded his MBE by the Her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday and described it as a great honour.
The reigning Formula One World Champion was awarded the accolade after being included on the Queen’s New Year honours list and follows in the footsteps of team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who was given an MBE a year earlier for his title triumph in 2008.
“The last 18 months have been an incredible period in my life,†Button said in a report on McLaren’s official website. “Starting last year facing almost impossible odds, I achieved my childhood dream of winning the Formula 1 world championship and I’m now driving for one of the greatest teams in the sport.
“To also be recognised by Her Majesty the Queen and the British people is the greatest honour I could possibly imagine.
“My whole life in motorsport has been an incredible journey. When I started karting as an eight-year-old boy, I could only dream of racing in Formula 1, or becoming world champion. Even now, those dreams still feel unbelievable and fantastic to me.
“To visit Buckingham Palace today is another huge step along that journey. To be awarded the MBE by Her Majesty the Queen is a very great honour for me, and a significant milestone in my life. Today makes me incredibly proud to be British, and to be able represent my country on the world’s stage.
“Being Formula 1 world champion, and receiving the MBE today, carries with it great responsibility that I am proud to take on and uphold.â€
