Jenson Button has officially announced his retirement from professional motorsport. The former world champion of 2009 will participate in his final race at the Eight Hours of Bahrain in early November before concluding his racing career.
Having wrapped up his Formula 1 journey in 2016, Button made a brief return for a special appearance with McLaren at the 2017 Monaco Grand Prix. Since then, the driver, originally from Somerset, has competed in various racing series, including the NASCAR Cup Series and the World Endurance Championship.
At 45 years old, Button, who also serves as a pundit for Sky Sports F1, had earlier disclosed his decision to step away from full-time racing and depart from his role with Jota Cadillac. Now, he has affirmed that his competitive racing days are coming to an end.
In an interview with BBC Radio Somerset, Button expressed, “This upcoming race will mark the conclusion of my professional racing career. Bahrain has always been a track I enjoy, and I intend to savor every moment of it before retiring from racing.”
Reflecting on his future plans, Button mentioned, “I have cherished my time with Jota in WEC, but my schedule has become increasingly demanding. It wouldn’t be fair to the team or myself to commit to another season in 2026, considering the time it takes away from my family.”
Additionally, Sky has recently enhanced its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports package, now offering HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+, and Hayu, along with 135 channels and extensive coverage of Formula 1.
Despite facing challenges earlier in the season at Qatar and Imola, Button’s team showed resilience with strong performances at Spa and Le Mans, culminating in a podium finish in Sao Paulo. Alongside teammates Earl Bamber and Sebastien Bourdais, Button is determined to support Cadillac in their battle for the American Manufacturers’ Championship against Porsche, with the team trailing by 22 points heading into the final race in Bahrain.
Button affirmed, “As a team, we are still vying for the Constructors’ Championship title. While winning is a tough challenge, securing second place is within reach. Bahrain holds much anticipation for me, especially as it marks the end of my professional racing career.”