Jenson Button to step back at the end of the season

It looks like a mini-retirement for Jenson Button. The world champion Formula 1 in 2009 with Brawn GP announced in an exclusive interview with the Telegraph that he will no longer ride full-time in 2026.

« I have so much to do and I can't get it all done, Jenson Button told the Telegraph. Next year I'm probably going to take a little step back because I won't be doing a full season. You know, I've had a great career and I hope the next races this year are great and we finish on a high. »

After leaving F1 in 2016, Jenson Button had two stints in 2017: at the Monaco F1 Grand Prix with McLaren, but also at Suzuka with Honda in Super GT. The Englishman had resumed his activity as a full-time driver in 2018 by riding in the Japanese championship, winning the title with Team Kunimitsu. This year 2018 was also his first appearance in Endurance and 24 Hours of Le Mans with SMP Racing.

After a second season in Super GT in 2019, Jenson Button had some stints in the following years, notably driving at Le Mans in 2023 in the NASCAR from Garage 59. The Englishman made a new full-time return in 2024 with the Hertz Team JOTA in the Hypercar category of the WEC, first on a Porsche 963 customer, then this year in the Cadillac factory program. At the last 24 Hours of Le Mans, Button had a great opportunity to add the trophy of the Sarthe classic to his list of achievements by starting from second place on the grid, but the trio he formed with Sébastien Bourdais and Earl Bamber eventually finished seventh.

« When you compete against the best drivers in the category, you never beat them with just one or two races. So I said to myself, "You know what? I need a full season of racing." Last year was a great first year with Jota, a private team. There's a lot less pressure before racing with a manufacturer this year. »

« It's very unlikely that I'll do a full season next year, just for timing reasons, adds Button. I really want to compete in some races from time to time. I just can't seem to dedicate as much time as I need to compete. You know, with the kids and life, we're too busy this year. »

Jenson Button could still compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but if he continues with Cadillac, it would likely be in a car entered in the championship. IMSA, and not in WEC. For the World Endurance Championship, the Hertz Team JOTA team should favor the presence of a new full-time driver to replace him for the entire season.

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