Traditional 'daruma' finished off by Button in post-race celebrations
The daruma first appeared in our garage on Thursday.
A gift from children at the local Tsubaki Elementary School, this traditional Japanese good-luck charm was given to the team during the morning’s pit walkabout.
Darumas are Japanese gifts, often given at the start of a new task as a symbol of perseverance and to inspire and motivate their owner.
According to Japanese tradition, darumas are initially blank-faced. At the start of a new task, one eye is painted onto the daruma’s face; upon completion, the second eye is painted in and the daruma’s face finally revealed.
The Vodafone McLaren Mercedes daruma was made as part of a school project at Tsubaki school. The school’s children, aged between 11 and 12, were split into small groups and each given an individual Formula 1 team to study.
Those studying our team sent an accompanying letter with their daruma that read:
“This daruma was handmade by us. It might be a little out of shape, but we have put our hearts into making it. A daruma may fall seven times, but will stand up again eight times.”
In other words, don’t give up – even through the hardest of times! Clearly, the daruma’s mystical charm worked for the team, with Jenson powering through to a commanding victory at Suzuka.
Afterwards, our Japanese engineer Hiroshi Imai and Jenson himself duly finished the circle, carefully painting in the daruma’s right eye amid the post-race celebrations. Indeed, the eagle-eyed among you will have surely spotted our daruma nestled in Hiroshi’s lap in our post-race celebratory photograph!
This week, the daruma will complete the final stage of its momentous journey, returning to Tsubaki Elementary School as a parting gift from Vodafone McLaren Mercedes to the people of Japan.
Follow the journey of our daruma in the photo gallery…
Credit: Vodafone McLaren Mercedes (mclaren.com)
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