Jenson Button was on Wednesday awarded an MBE by Her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

The 30-year-old was included in the Queen's New Years Honours List after winning the Formula One World Championship with Brawn GP, following in the footsteps of compatriot Lewis Hamilton, who won the crown the previous year. Hamilton too was awarded an MBE for his achievement.

"The last 18 months have been an incredible period in my life," the official Forumula One website quoted Button as saying after receiving the award.

"Starting last year facing almost impossible odds, I achieved my childhood dream of winning the Formula One world championship and I'm now driving for one of the greatest teams in the sport.

"To also be recognised by Her Majesty the Queen and the British people is the greatest honour I could possibly imagine. My whole life in motorsport has been an incredible journey. When I started karting as an eight year-old boy, I could only dream of racing in Formula One, or becoming world champion. Even now, those dreams still feel unbelievable and fantastic to me.

"To visit Buckingham Palace today is another huge step along that journey. To be awarded the MBE by Her Majesty the Queen is a very great honour for me, and a significant milestone in my life. Today makes me incredibly proud to be British, and to be able represent my country on the world's stage. Being Formula One world champion, and receiving the MBE, carries with it great responsibility that I am proud to take on and uphold," he added.