One of the many messages received by Jenson Button came from Alain Prost. "All the best my friend for the future," tweeted one champion to another. "McLaren is a family".
It was a brief but interesting comment in the light of Button's intention to stand aside as a regular F1 driver. Prost took a sabbatical in 1992 and came back to win a fourth title the following year. The difference is that he left Ferrari, took a year off and joined Williams for 1993.
The reference to the McLaren family is poignant, not only because Button is staying on board in an ambassadorial role but also because Prost, despite his sincere respect for the Williams management and mechanics, never truly felt at home with the team from Grove. His heart remained at Woking and there is no question that the same applies to Button.
The irony here, of course, is that Jenson made his F1 debut with Williams in 2000. This was a major story for the British media back in the day. We had David Coulthard as de facto Number 2 to Mika Hakkinen at McLaren, while Johnny Herbert and Eddie Irvine were making dubious 'twilight of career' moves to mismanaged Jaguar. The prospect of a bright-eyed 20-year-old Englishman joining a much-loved and respected British team had the so-called 'Fleet Street' hacks playing puns with his catchy name long before the contract was signed at the eleventh hour. This was very good news.
Nonetheless, a quick look at Button's F3 record suggested circumspection might be in order. When I suggested the eulogies on 'Britain's next World Champion' (to quote a respected motor sport weekly) ought to be put on hold, my name went to the top of John Button's wanted list as he, quite rightly, looked after the best interests of his son.
I made only the briefest comment in 'The Observer' report when Button crashed during qualifying for the first race in Australia. But John had plenty to say when Jenson qualified third at Spa and fifth at Suzuka. As we gathered round for a post-qualifying briefing in Belgium, I clearly remember Button Senior's gravelly voice booming in the background: "Where's that f***ing Irishman who says Jense ain't gonna make it?" Then a wheezy laugh and an arm around the shoulder, both of which were to become wonderfully familiar over the next decade.
Jenson and I were to have a one-to-one interview at the end of the season, and subsequent chats during which he admitted that, perhaps, he could have benefitted from a bit more experience before being thrown in the deep end with a team not noted for its molly-coddling. Button may have finished 8th in the 2000 championship but those qualifying performances on two truly great driver circuits were evidence of a natural gift that did not receive its reward until much later.
Confidence and maturity may have come through well-worked results with BAR-Honda but 2009 would be the outstanding season. Yes, the Brawn-Mercedes was the class of the field, but Button made the most of it early on. Which was just as well, because pressure began to take hold in the second half and required Jenson to maintain all of the poise and calm that has characterised his career.
The chaotic and delirious post-race scenes in the cramped garage and paddock at Interlagos were as memorable as the season itself. One of my first jobs was to seek out the proud dad who, amid the tears, found time to cheerfully remind me of my prognostication nine years before.
The following day, British newspaper reporters had an appointment with Jenson in the coffee bar of the Sheraton Hotel. When we'd finished recalling the season and reflecting on his title, Button insisted on giving everyone a hug and personal thanks for a season spent together through good and very little bad.
It was typical of Jenson's genuine warmth; a humility he would carry with him to McLaren where the self-assurance of a former champion's mantle would produce some exquisite fingertip performances. He would quickly become part of the family atmosphere so appreciated by Prost, a driver, appropriately enough, with similar gentle co-ordination in the car and similar grace when out of it.