NOW launch F1 season with world record title victory.

F1 legend Jenson Button has added another string to his bow – breaking the Guinness World Record title for the BATAK reflex reaction test.

An official Guinness World Record adjudicator presented the award to Button after he smashed the record with 58 strikes in 30 seconds, beating the former record holder, Arshia Shahriari from Iran, who held the record of 56 strikes in 30 seconds for 4 years.

Button was set the challenge by streaming service NOW, ahead of the Formula 1 season which gets underway from the 3rd March 2023 in Bahrain.

The BATAK light reaction machine is a frequently used tool to improve F1 drivers’ reaction speed, hand co-ordination and stamina.

Targets light up randomly across the board and participants must hit each light within an allotted time to test their peripheral vision and ability to respond quickly.

F1 drivers’ reaction times are three times faster than the average person, ensuring they can overcome any challenge they face on the track*.

While driving in F1, Jenson’s training consisted of cycling, running, boxing and swimming for 16 to 20 hours a week for 17 years -making competitions out of this with other people to see who could run, swim, cycle the furthest really helped spur him on.

Other examples of his grueling training routine included an eight-hour bike ride up a volcano, skiing up mountains and swimming with sharks.

F1 drivers go through vigorous training to become race ready and experience up to six times the force of gravity as they brake, turn and accelerate in their cutting-edge cars.

Not only this, an F1 drivers’ heart rate can increase to around 160 to 200** beats per minute in contrast to an average person’s resting heart rate at 60 beats per minute, making it crucial to train aerobically.

Jenson Button said: “Always nice to add a new trophy to the collection – and an official GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title at that. I set my unofficial record in my twenties, so it’s great to see that I’ve still got it, twenty years later!”

“We’re looking at one of the most exciting seasons yet with Max, Lewis and the guys at Ferrari – it’s definitely looking a three-way race for the Championship this year and I can’t wait to see who comes out on top.”

A spokesperson for Guinness World Record said: “As an adjudicator for Guinness World Records, I’ve seen countless record attempts, but Jenson Button’s achievement in extinguishing 58 Batak lights in 30 seconds was very impressive.”

“Breaking this record requires not only lightning-fast reaction times but also the ability to maintain focus and rely on peripheral vision, as Jenson demonstrated. It’s a testament to his skill as a race driver and a reminder that breaking records isn’t just about physical ability, but also mental discipline and strategy.”

Jamie Schwartz, Marketing and Merchandising Director from NOW said “We’re glad that we could work with an F1 legend like Jenson and get him into the record books. Setting a new World Record is definitely a great way to kick off the 2023 F1 season which is looking to be one of the best ever.”

F1 fans can challenge Jenson’s new world record on the official NOW Batak machine at the F1 Arcade, London, on Saturday 4th March from 10am – 8pm to win NOW F1 prizes.

The entire F1 season can be streamed live on NOW from 3rd March as the lights go out first in Bahrain. For more information visit https://www.nowtv.com/watch-f1-online

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