Brown praises Button's efforts

Fresh from his double success at the AUTOSPORT Awards on Sunday night, where Button won both the British Competition and International Racing Driver trophies, the Briton received more honours at the British Racing Drivers' Club Annual Awards in London on Monday.

And guest of honour was Brown, who took to the stage to acknowledge Button's triumph for Brawn GP this year before presenting him with the Richard Seaman trophy.

"We have a world champion in whom we have so much pride, who fought back against all the odds, who achieved something when some people thought at the beginning of the season it was impossible: Jenson, the whole country is proud of you," said Brown.

"You are a brilliant ambassador for British sport."

Brown was also delighted that Silverstone had succeeded in saving the British Grand Prix, after announcing a new 17-year deal on Monday.

"It is a particular privilege for me to be here on the day when we are announcing that Silverstone, the first racing track to have a world championship race in 1950, will now have for another seventeen years the British Grand Prix," he said.

"I believe that all those who have contributed to that success and to that announcement today deserve our praise. It puts Britain right at the centre of world racing for seventeen years to come. Thank you all for what you've achieved."