Bad luck robs Button of sixth-place

The 20-year-old made a stunning start, racing from the back row of the grid to 15th on the first lap.

Then he scrapped his way up to seventh through courageous driving - but helped as the seering heat took its toll on the field.

But he stepped into the points on lap 39 when Heinz-Harald Frenzten's Jordan retired.

His valiant battle came to an end with smoke trailing from the back of his car 11 laps from the chequered flag.

But he had proved wrong the knockers who said he was too young to be in Formula 1.

"It would have been nice for it to have lasted another 12 laps but I am ecstatic with sixth," he said.

"I have had a great race. I climbed form 21st on the grid to sixth, great start to my F1 career.

"I think I have proved a lot of people wrong today. But that's not the most important thing for me. What was most important was that I proved I've got what it takes for Formula One.

"I was very calm before the start of the race. In fact it frightened me when I realised how calm I was.

"This day as lived up to the dreams I had of being a Formula One driver when I was a kid living in Frome (in England)."