I’ve never understood the dislike of Jenson Button from some quarters. I suppose I’ve never been interested in his private life, so maybe that’s part of it. And I think it’s mellowed in recent years.

But moreover, I think he’s always done as much as pretty much anyone could with the car he was driving.

Only in his first two seasons of Formula 1, and last season, was he beaten by his team-mate in the championship: Ralf Schumacher finished 5th to Button’s 8th in 2000 for Williams; Giancarlo Fisichella’s podium at Spa helped him to 11th for Benetton in 2001, when Button finished 17th; and Rubens Barrichello managed 14th for Honda in 2009, while Button finished a career low of 18th.

It’s not his 2006 Hungarian victory which I’d point at to support Button’s class, but the whole 2004 season. Ten podium finishes took him to 3rd in the championship, behind only the two Ferraris, who between them won all but three races. Renault’s Fernando Alonso and McLaren’s Juan Pablo Montoya were a relatively distant 4th and 5th. There can be no question about his ability to string together a consistent, competitive season.

So with the right car at the right time, what’s to suggest that he couldn’t mount a serious attack on the championship?

Most impressive though, for my money, is his loyalty to Brawn GP. You could argue that he learned something about loyalty during the contract dispute between BAR/Honda and Williams before and after the 2005 season: signing for Williams in late 2004 for 2005-6, but having to stay at BAR for 2005; then being bought out of his Williams contract to stay with the team – now Honda – for 2006.

I don’t think anyone can criticise Button for the way he’s handled Honda eventually becoming Brawn GP – although Button’s management was criticised more than Button for the Williams affair.

For example, the Q&A with Button on autosport.com. He talks about the folk at the factory with passion and admiration:

“To see the team was great for me, because it showed that they were all still focused and still doing a great job. In a way that helped me more than me helping them. It goes both ways though and I think I’ve showed to them that I am dedicated and focused to do the best job I can with this team. I didn’t go to another team or try and find something different, because I knew this team could do it and do it in the future.”

He’s also strikingly humble in talking about himself: “I am 29 years old, I’m still a kid in my eyes and I have got a lot to prove in F1.”

And pervading all of his answers is an infectious sense of childish enthusiasm and optimism.

I’m beginning to think that Brawn GP could be very good for Formula 1. As others have already pointed out, we need a new underdog to get behind since the sad demise of Super Aguri.