How to Be an F1 Driver

By: Jenson Button

Narrated by: Jack Hawkins, Jenson Button

Author of Sunday Times best seller Life to the Limit.

In his 17 years as a Formula 1 driver, Jenson Button has picked up a thing or two about how to do the job properly. Sure, you need to be able to drive a car fast - and Jenson is on hand to pass on a few tricks of the trade here - but you also need to know the real rules for making it to the top.

Like, how to tell a multiple F1 champion they need to check their blind spot. What the difference is between a helmet and a hat, and indeed a 'helmet-hat'. How to practise your champagne spray ahead of the big day. Why it is never, ever, under any circumstances a good idea to buy a yacht. And how to face down your team when you've just stacked their multi-million-pound car into a wall during practice.

But 'JB' (nicknames in F1 run the full range from initials to, well, just using first names) doesn't stop there. HTBAF1D (catchy) lifts the lid on the people, the places, the weird rituals, the motorhomes, the media, the cars, the perks and the disasters. Join Jenson as he reveals how not to race a stupid big truck, why driving Le Mans is like having five shots of tequila before lunch and what to do when you finally hang up your helmet-hat.

©2019 Jenson Button (P)2019 Bonnier Books UK

I just simply love it

I loved the detailed and humorous depictions of his career. I also love jb and the narrator had a similar enough voice that it really helped me to hear jb’s voice in the writing even more than I otherwise would.

Genuine F1 Insight

Listening to Jenson Button’s book felt like having a conversation with him. There’s no pretense or false drama. Honest, endearing and informative.

Another win for JB

I am a big fan of JB. I have always respected how he handled himself as a driver and since leaving Formula 1. I enjoyed his first book immensely and frankly, I purchased this book more as a supportive curiosity with my expectations set lower as I did not think he would have the content to fill another book after already having published his first. I was wrong to ever doubt this book.

Jenson completely delivers a very interesting and engaging book in a format that I initially feared would be gimmicky. The format of “guidebook” for becoming a F1 driver was creative and helped with the flow of the book. The anecdotes and stories were fun and engaging. Excellent narration by Jack Hawkins as well.

After having read several autobiographical works of folks who drove or have been involved in motorsports, I have found (quite unexpectedly I might add) both of Jenson Button’s books to be among the most interesting in the genre. Bravo!

Great story

Wanna know learn inside stuff on f1. Look no further. Worth the credit. Worth the time. JB won this one.

Fantastic

This is one of those that could have gone either way. It’s either a biography and how he got into racing in F1 with some insights here and there. OR, it is what life in F1 is all about. This is the latter. This book is fantastic and allows the reader/listener to experience “Formula 1-ville” as JB calls it. You get insights into other drivers, what sponsor events are like. Hands down, best book I’ve listened to this year!

Absolutely Enjoyed It!

As a High-Performance Mindset Coach moving from Motorcycle racing to F1, I found this quite enlightening and enjoyable.

Thanks Jenson, you’re a great man.

Dr. Jay Cavanaugh
RAK Racing

Great Book! Non race fans will enjoy too!

Jack Hawkins knows how to land the jokes and put us right in Jenson’s mind. Pretty rare for most narrators!
Thanks Dudes...

A fun look into the world of F1!

This is definitely be a re-listen, I really enjoyed learning the ins and outs of the world of F1 beyond the glitz and glamour that it seems to be. JB seems like the most “grounded” of all the WDCs and I appreciate his real life take on things

Great Book - Great Narration

Jenson's second book is as interesting and entertaining as his autobiography. In "How to Be a. F1 Driver", JB offers the reader an inside look at the life and lifestyle of a modern F1 Driver. In addition to general insights such as the money, the glamour, and the lifestyle of an F1 driver, a massive amount of topics are touched on ranging from; the different systems and setups of the car, driving techniques, how race teams operate, crashing, and how to outperform a team mate, to air travel, fitness, and diet; with everything in-between. Jenson speaks in both general terms and anecdote-laden experiences spanning his racing career. This book is both compelling and a pleasurable read. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in Formula 1 or racing in general.

great book about Jenson

The book gives some super insights into the world of racing that to tell the truth I had never thought of before.