Button deserves his Silverstone jinx to end

Jenson Button does not believe in luck - good or bad - or in whether he is jinxed when it comes to the British Grand Prix. But there aren't many Formula 1 world champions who have been as unfortunate in their home event as the 36-year-old veteran.

Button goes into this weekend's race at Silverstone still waiting to experience what he is sure would be one of the emotional highs of his near-17-year F1 career. It is an astonishing fact that in his 16 previous British GPs, Button has never even stood on the podium, never mind its top step.

Of the 25 countries in which Button has raced in F1, he has finished on the podium in 19 of them - but Britain, for whatever reason, has always eluded him.

It means he has never once savoured the view of a sea of fans along the pit straight at Silverstone - either old or new - with many carrying Union Jack flags, and basked in their adulation.

There have been near misses, of course, with Button fourth on three occasions in 2004, '10 and '14, coming agonisingly close in the latter two races especially.

In 2010, Button missed out on third by 0.679 seconds to Nico Rosberg, while four years later it was Mark Webber who denied him by just under a second.

Arguably, Button's title-winning year of 2009 should have been his opportunity to break his duck as he went into the race as favourite after winning six of the first seven GPs, and finishing third in the other.

But Britain's notoriously inclement weather turned against him as the much cooler climes of that weekend did not suit the previously dominant Brawn BGP 001.

Struggling to get the tyres to work in the conditions, Button could only qualify and finish sixth - though again within sight of the podium as team-mate Rubens Barrichello was just five seconds ahead in third.

A year earlier, when both were stuck with a floundering Honda, Barrichello got on the podium, but Button spun out while ahead and lapping faster as they came through the field on extreme wets.

And then there was 2011 when Button was again in the running for a podium place until the final round of pitstops, only to be sent out by his McLaren crew with his right-front wheel not properly attached, forcing him to retire and park in the pit exit.

"It really hurts," says Button of his wretched home record.

"But you know what? I can't do anything about that right now. You've just got to take it.

"Would I rather win the world championship than the British GP? Of course! I have achieved my main target in Formula 1.

"But there is one thing missing and that is definitely the British GP. It's not just the win, it's even being on the podium.

"I have had a couple of races where it has been close, such as in 2011 when my wheel fell off coming out of the pits, so it just hasn't worked out.

"But I love the circuit. It has certainly been kind to me in terms of outright pace, but just the results haven't been there."

Button recognises the fact that, barring quite remarkable circumstances, this weekend's opportunity is another that will pass him by.

McLaren and Honda may have been making steady progress in the second year of their reunion, but not enough to push him into top-three contention.

"I can only do the job as good as I possibly can," Button muses.

"We won't be fighting for a podium. There is another British guy [Lewis Hamilton] who will be.

"I won't have that opportunity, which is a shame. All I know is I can only do my best with what I have available. That's all I can do for my home crowd."

To that end, Button can only offer gratitude to the British public who have stood by him through thick and thin over the years since his F1 debut 16 years ago

"They have been so supportive since the start of my career in Formula 1 back in 2000 up until now, through the good years and the bad.

"They have always been fantastic. There has been so much support.

"These days there are not so many grands prix that have a full house, but the British GP is one of those.

"We go to races where on TV the circuit looks great, but there are probably only a few thousand people in the grandstands.

"It takes away from the atmosphere for us, and for everyone I think, but at Silverstone with all the people there, waving flags, it really makes for a special atmosphere.

"And it's not just the people who are sat in the grandstands, these are people who love the sport, love the atmosphere, and the sport needs that now more than ever."

As has become customary over the past few years, the question as to whether Button is facing his last British GP is one that is inevitably raised.

Button has managed to stave off the critics and doubters, and held on to his seat with McLaren, a team with which he has spent the last six-and-a-half years. But uncertainty is growing again ahead of 2017.

McLaren reserve Stoffel Vandoorne is waiting in the wings, the young Belgian proving himself admirably on his F1 debut earlier this season when he claimed 10th in Bahrain while deputising for the injured Fernando Alonso.

Button's fifth in qualifying and sixth in the race in Austria last weekend were a reminder he still has the talent, and his hunger to continue can also not be questioned.

And that's why, despite Vandoorne's presence in the background, Button cannot consider for a second that this could be his final British GP.

"There's no point thinking it may be my last because I'd have to go through those emotions again if it isn't," explains Button.

"In a way you could say it would be a shame if I didn't think of it as my last, and it was.

"But then again I don't want to go into the weekend thinking it's going to be my last and then you get to the end of the year, and you think 'I actually want to do another year'.

"It doesn't make your final British Grand Prix so special then, so I go into it just looking for a good weekend with no emotional attachments to it, in terms of it being my last race."

Whatever transpires this weekend, one thing for certain is that it will not be Button's last visit to the British GP.

He has an ambition to attend the event as a fan, with an intriguing plan in the pipeline to ensure he is not recognised and hassled.

"I would go through two hours of make-up so I could actually relax because I'd love to see Formula 1 at Silverstone from a fan's point of view.

"I'm a massive fan of Formula 1 and have been for years, but we miss so much because we can't just go and sit in a grandstand."

Button recalls a particular memory of him and his father John, who passed away in early 2014, that underlines the affinity he has with his home race, and why - in one way or another - he will not let it go.

"I remember watching the '94 British Grand Prix. I went camping with my dad in a caravan, across the road from the entrance to the circuit, and absolutely loved the experience," said Button.

"We sat on a bank because we couldn't afford to sit in a grandstand. It was at Priory just as you went across the bridge, we'd sneaked on to the left bank there, and it was very special.

"There was such a great atmosphere, and a very happy atmosphere.

"I'm sure there are many sports, when you have two teams against one other, and the atmosphere is 'interesting'.

"In Formula 1 you just have a happy atmosphere. Everyone wants their driver or team to win, but you don't hate the other person if another driver or team wins.

"So it's just a great atmosphere, of people who love motorsport, and who love Formula 1 for what it is."

Button is someone who epitomises those last few words, and while all good things must come to an end, whether this weekend's race is his last or not at Silverstone remains to be seen.

If it is, we can only hope the sporting gods smile upon him, and provide him with the podium place he so richly deserves.