So I was working at the BBC yesterday, where everyone is still talking about Jenson Button’s World title triumph in Brazil. Yesterday we got a first glimpse of him back in dear old blighty as he met his adoring public at Bluewater Shopping Centre in Kent and hurtled around the car park at high speed.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8317778.stm

Now apart from thinking I could do with his help when I’m doing my Christmas shopping there, I did feel really pleased for him on a personal level. I've interviewed him a few times, the last of which was 3 years ago when I spent a day with him at Silverstone. He was absolutely charming and up for anything which was a real delight, because sometimes sportsmen and women can get a little starry and hide behind the teams of PR’s and agents.

But Jenson still had his feet firmly on the ground. In fact when I took a picture of him with my producer, I solemnly informed him that it was for her downstairs loo. He looked slightly bewildered and when I explained that I had a picture of William Shatner and I in mine, who is a TV icon, I don't think it helped. But he did see the funny side and whisked me off in his snazzy car to give me a lift back to the car park.......... which was an experience......

So we can all share in his joy at becoming champion of the world and even find a way to forgive him for that dreadful rendition of ‘We are the Champions’, which I hope we can put down to the excitement of the moment. But I wonder how many people can honestly say hand on heart, that his win and Lewis Hamilton’s 12 months ago, has made them want to jump in a car and start racing.

Motor-racing is notoriously difficult to break into and can be extremely expensive – a mass participation sport it ain’t. But a mass spectator sport it most certainly is and provokes a fiercely loyal following around the world. I must confess it turns me a little cold and although I admire the bravery and skill of the drivers, the politics and money involved can be slightly vulgar.

And I agree with David Coulthard when he said last year that Lewis Hamilton wouldn’t have been doing nearly as well without that car. He wasn’t picking on Lewis in particular, he was addressing a widely held belief that a true test of who is the best driver in the world, will only come when they're all in the same cars. Now you might think I am being a bit of an old curmudgeon on this one, but I’d love to hear your thoughts.

And just to really stir you up, don’t start me on the money the drivers get paid. Jenson earns £12 million a year at Brawn GP apparently. And now he’s top dog, he’ll get a big pay rise. While Kimi Raikkonen must be really struggling to make ends meet on £24 million a year. I know they risk life and limb but £24 million? I think that’s too much, I really do. Discuss????

If you're interested in taking it up or trying to get involved, here are two useful articles.....

http://www.ehow.com/how_2096847_become-formula-1-driver.html

http://lewishamilton.me.uk/2007/08/22/how-to-be-a-formula-1-driver/