Jenson Button has been working as a pundit for Sky Sports F1 since 2018 and has built up a good relationship with his colleague Danica Patrick, but he was caught in an awkward moment

View 2 Images

Jenson Button has been a Sky Sports F1 pundit since 2018.(Image: Mark Sutton – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)

F1 legend Jenson Button found himself in an awkward situation with Sky Sports colleague Danica Patrick at the United States Grand Prix held in Texas. The 2009 F1 World Drivers Champion has been serving as a pundit for the broadcaster since 2018.

He shares the screen with Patrick, a trailblazing former NASCAR and IndyCar driver who made history by becoming the first woman to win a series race in the latter in 2008. While chatting outside the paddocks in Austin, Texas, Patrick shared her thoughts on the collision between Williams’ Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes stand-in, Kimi Antonelli, at the Circuit of the Americas.

As Patrick voiced her opinion, the ex-McLaren star was seen turning to the camera with a smile. Button said: “It looked like Sainz went for a move that was late. He realised that it was too late and that Kimi had turned in… He tried to brake out of it, locked up and that’s what drove him into the side of Kimi.”

Earlier in the race, Sainz had successfully overtaken Haas driver Oliver Bearman. However, after being forced to retire on lap six due to his collision, the Spaniard was then deemed responsible for the crash and received a five-place grid penalty for the Mexican Grand Prix.

Discussing the overtake, Patrick suggested he made a poor decision to overtake in that area. She said: “Not the best spot to go. When you make a move in an unusual place, then you get an unusual result.”

As she wrapped up her point, Button turned to the camera with a slight smirk. Patrick, not looking at the racing legend at that moment, likely missed the gesture.

View 2 Images

Button pulled this expression as Patrick made her point. (Image: Sky Sports)

This isn’t the first time Button has pulled such a move. At the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix in 2023, he repeated the same expression while she was speaking, smirking directly into the camera.

The duo have been friends for nearly three decades, their bond dating back to when she was just 16 – and Button was 21. Recalling their early encounters as young racers, Patrick once shared: “I met Lewis Hamilton at Jenson’s 21st birthday party.

“By which time Jenson was already an F1 driver. We were a brat pack of friends, he and a few other drivers. Button’s a nice guy. I was happy to see him win last year.”

Patrick made her first appearance on Sky Sports at the 2021 United States Grand Prix. Since then, she has been a regular face for the broadcaster, working closely with Button on their F1 coverage.