Int. Racing Driver: Jenson Button

The world champion was presented with the trophy at the AUTOSPORT Awards by legendary commentator Murray Walker, who was full of praise for what Button achieved this year.

It is the second time that Button has won the Award, having captured it back in 2004 after a spirited season at BAR as Ferrari's main challenger, and was his second award of the evening, having taken the British Competition Driver of the Year honours minutes earlier.

He was voted for above Rubens Barrichello, Dario Franchitti, Lewis Hamilton, Nico Hulkenberg and Sebastian Vettel.

"I've never had a relaxed winter in F1," Button said. "I have been with the people at Brawn for seven years. The engineers are at my table, and this award goes to them because awards don't normally go to engineers."

Button won the world title in Brazil after a fairytale season with Brawn GP - which started the year in dominant fashion despite a winter when it did not know if it would even be in Formula 1.

The world championship campaign was effectively tied up in the first half of the season, when Button took six victories from the first seven races.

Although Button did not win again after the Turkish Grand Prix, it was his consistency - and the inability of his rivals to put together a good sequence of results - that ensured he ended the year as title winner.

Button will be defending his crown with McLaren next year, after agreeing a deal to join Lewis Hamilton at the Woking-based outfit.