Canadian Grand Prix

The greatest comeback in F1 history

Button was dead last. He had collided with his teammate Hamilton, served a drive-through penalty, and sat through a two-hour red flag in P21. In any normal race, that's a write-off. But the track started drying, Button found a rhythm on the right tires, and he began picking off cars one by one. By the final lap he was right behind Vettel, who had led almost the entire race. Vettel made a mistake, Button pounced. Last to first. Four hours of racing. The most extraordinary victory I've ever seen.

Four hours of controlled chaos

The 2011 Canadian GP lasted over four hours, making it the longest race in F1 history. Six safety car periods. A red flag lasting over two hours. Button went from P21 to P1. The race had 25 lead changes or position swaps in the top 5 alone. Vettel led the most laps but made a critical error on the final lap on a drying track, sliding wide and letting Button through. The statistics of this race are absurd, but the viewing experience was even more so.

This is why we watch racing

Button from DEAD LAST to winning on the FINAL LAP. He hit his teammate, got a penalty, sat in the garage for two hours during the red flag, and STILL won. Vettel had it locked up, absolutely cruising in the lead, and then made one little mistake on the last lap on a damp patch. Button was right there. Full send into the lead. The longest race in F1 history and worth every single second. I could watch this race a hundred times.

Never give up – the race

I'll never forget the feeling during this race. Button was last, totally out of it, and I actually turned the TV off during the red flag. My friend texted me saying I needed to turn it back on. I did, and over the next hour watched the most improbable comeback I've ever seen in any sport. Twenty-one positions gained. Pass on the leader on the final lap. I still get goosebumps thinking about it. This race is the argument against ever switching off early.

Absolute madness

Four hours. Six safety cars. Button from dead last to the top step. The most ridiculous race I've ever seen – and I mean that as the highest compliment.

Montreal and rain: the greatest love story in F1

The longest race in F1 history – four hours and four minutes – and somehow it justified every second. Six safety car periods, a red flag stoppage lasting over two hours, and a final result that nobody could have predicted after Button had dropped to dead last following a drive-through penalty. Button collided with Hamilton (his own teammate) and later with Alonso. He served a penalty. He was 21st. The race should have been over for him. But the conditions kept changing – dry, wet, dry again – and Button kept making the right tyre calls while those ahead kept making wrong ones. Vettel led for most of the race and looked comfortable. Then on the final restart, in damp conditions, he made a rare mistake at the hairpin. Button went through on the outside. The move was so clean and so decisive that even Vettel couldn't argue with it. From last to first in the same race. In Canada. In the rain. Jenson later called it the best race of his career and nobody disagreed.