Phil Young with Formula 1 driver Jenson ButtonTHERE aren't many men who can claim to spend more time with Jenson Button than his girlfriend.

But that's something Phil Young, of Old Town, can do.

Phil, 43, is Button's sports therapist and the Formula 1 driver relies on him for everything from post-race massages to fitness training and nutrition.

Phil spends more than 200 days a year trackside with Button, who currently stands in third place in this year's championship behind Schumacher and Barrichello.

Phil grew up in Park North and qualified as a sports therapist eight years ago. Since then he has worked for the British Cycling Federation and the Renault Formula One team.

When Button joined Renault in 2001, Phil struck up a strong bond with him and now he is employed as his personal sports therapist. They are currently training in Monaco ahead of Sunday's Grand Prix in Belgium.

"Jenson is great to work with," said Phil. "He's very mature for his age, sometimes I forget how young he is. He's only 24 and he's been in Formula 1 for five years.

"I help him prepare for all the races and tests and minimise hassles as much as possible.

"A big part of what I do is working on fitness as well as injury treatment if and when injuries arise.

"Most people think Formula 1 is all about glitz and glamour, and it can be like that, but most of the time it's very hard work. We spend up to four hours a day training.

"Jenson has to be very fit. The G force involved in racing is huge. Drivers can face up to five Gs as they race into corners. Combine that with the nine-kilo weight of the helmet and that's the sort of force you're looking at.

"And a lot of time is also spent travelling and waiting around in airports."

Phil won't return home to Swindon until after the Formula 1 championship has been decided at the end of October. Between now and then, Phil and the team will travel to Belgium, Italy, China, Japan and Brazil.

Phil met his partner, Chris, 39, after the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. They now live together in Lethbridge Road, Old Town, but because Phil's job takes him away from home so often, they don't get to see as much of each other as they' d like.

"It is my dream job," said Phil. "You get to see other countries and cultures as more and more races are in faraway places.

"But it is a huge commitment. I only spent 80 days at home last year, so I need to have an understanding girlfriend like mine."

Emma-Kate Lidbury