The British racing driver currently works as a reserve driver for McLaren-Honda, having retired from the race seat at the start of the 2017 season.
But in an exclusive excerpt from his new book, it has been revealed the 37-year-old had an uneasy relationship with another Formula One driver – Michael Schumacher’s brother, Ralf.
Button explained he had been with Williams “for all of 10 seconds” when he met Ralf for the first time, after the driver burst into the room when all Jenson could think of was how to tell his mother and father he’d been chosen to race for the team.
He said his new colleague “took up position opposite Frank Williams”, the founder of the Williams Formula One racing team, and “pulled his best diva face” as he revealed he would not be coming in the follow day unless a car was waiting for him at his hotel.
Jenson said: “I was thinking, ‘Bloody hell, you can’t speak to Frank like that.’ But Frank’s equilibrium was undisturbed as Ralf continued, giving it the full Mariah Carey.”
He said Ralf continued to argue, insisting he would not come in or test unless a car was waiting for him – but Frank Williams remain “unruffled”.
Jenson said: “Ralf was about to flounce out, toys successfully jettisoned, when Frank added, ‘More importantly, Ralf, I’ve chosen Jenson as the second driver.’
“Ralf looked at Frank and then at me. ‘Yeah, I know,’ he said imperiously.
“Whether Ralf really did know or was just being a cocky b******, who can say? Either way it was a strange way to start a relationship with a teammate.
“Ralf always came across as a bit insecure to me, as though he feared he was being usurped.
“He never quite treated me as an equal, which might have been my age or the language barrier.”
The 37-year-old, who retired at the end of last season but came back for the Monaco Grand Prix this year, also opened up about his relationship with Ralf’s brother.
Michael Schumacher is widely considered the greatest racing driver of all time, having won seven world championships before his tragic ski accident in 2013.
Writing in his book, Jenson said of the sporting hero: “He was a tough driver but he was always fair with me.
“He never took the p*** when it came to racing; he’d push me to the limit but never over it.
“A controversial character, for sure – just ask Jacques Villeneuve and Damon Hill – but it was always fun fighting with him.
“Especially when you put him in the rear-view mirror.”
Schumacher’s health is largely unknown after his shocking accident during a skiing holiday with his family in Meribel, France.
His family and team have kept his condition a closely-guarded secret.