Jenson's 'welcome' gift to Rubens

The team's 2006 driver line-up of Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello promises to be one of the most competitive driver pairings on the race track in 2006. Less so 'off'-track, it seems, after Jenson offered to sacrifice his claim on the lead entry number in the team, in deference to his new team-mate's lucky number.

The allocated driver numbers – 11 and 12 – reflect the team's position in the 2005 Constructors' Championship. Although Jenson and Rubens will have equal status and equipment, as the incumbent driver in the team, Jenson was at liberty to continue with the lead number for the coming season.

However, whilst the pair were plotting their assault next season, Jenson learned that Rubens achieved his first race win as the number 11 driver, that all of his karting titles were achieved as #11 and that he won his first race in the Formula Ford Championship sporting what is now his lucky number. With that in mind, he offered Rubens his entry number and will now compete with driver entry number 12.

Jenson Button "I have no particular affinity with any number – other than 1 of course, which I hope to race with enormous pride when I achieve my goal of winning the World Championship. In the meantime, I know how special the number 11 has been to Rubens in his past career and I thought it would be nice to make the gesture. We'll have plenty to be competing for 'on'- track next season. We're good friends already and we're both looking forward to being team-mates. I just hope number 11 isn't too lucky for Rubens next year!"