FACTBOX - World champion Jenson Button

(Reuters) - The following is a brief factbox on Formula One world champion Jenson Button, who signed a multi-year contract with McLaren on Wednesday:

* The 29-year-old is Britain's 10th Formula One world champion, following on from his new team mate and compatriot Lewis Hamilton.

* He leaves BrawnGP, who will become Mercedes Grand Prix in the 2010 season, to join McLaren in an all-English lineup of champions.

* Button has started 171 grands prix and won seven, six of those victories coming in the first seven races of this season.

* The Englishman makes his Formula One debut with Williams in Australia in 2000 after winning a "shoot-out" with Brazilian Bruno Junquiera for the seat vacated by Italian Alex Zanardi.

* In only his second race, in Brazil aged 20, he becomes the youngest driver to score a point (a feat since surpassed by Germany's Sebastian Vettel).

* He moves to Benetton, later Renault, in 2001 and then to BAR in 2003 when he also has the biggest crash of his career at the Monaco Grand Prix.

* Button signs for Williams in 2004 but a contract recognition board rules he has to stay with BAR for 2005. He then has to spend millions to buy himself out of the Williams deal to stay with BAR (renamed Honda) in 2006.

* Button wins his first grand prix with Honda in Hungary 2006, his 113th start.

* After two dismal seasons, his place in Formula One looked doubtful at the end of last year when Honda announced their departure from the sport. He is thrown a lifeline when team principal Ross Brawn leads a management buyout.

* In a dream debut season, he wins the championship with a race to spare at the Brazilian Grand Prix while BrawnGP take the constructors' title.

* Button's parents are divorced and he has three sisters. His father John, a former rallycross driver, attends most of his races. His girlfriend, Jessica Michibata, is a lingerie model of Argentine-Japanese parentage.

(Writing by Alan Baldwin; Editing by Ken Ferris)