Jenson Button, the 2009 Formula 1 World Champion, is set to bring down the curtain on his professional racing career following the upcoming 8 Hours of Bahrain endurance race. Button, 45, who transitioned from F1 to sports car racing after retiring in 2017, announced that he will not return for another World Endurance Championship (WEC) season beyond this finale.
Button won his sole F1 Drivers’ Championship in a fairy-tale 2009 season with Brawn GP, clinching the title with consistent top finishes and six wins in the first seven races. The British driver’s smooth style and racecraft earned him 15 Grand Prix victories across an 18-season career in the world’s premier motorsport series.
After retiring from F1, Button embraced sports car racing. He competed in WEC’s Hypercar class with Hertz Team Jota for the past two seasons, alongside stints in Japan’s Super GT series and NASCAR road course events. His decision to retire comes down to balancing family life and the enormous demands of pro endurance racing, which requires extensive travel and preparation.
Reflecting on his retirement, Button expressed gratitude for the experiences and acknowledged the sacrifice required to compete at top levels, especially given his young children and personal commitments. The 8 Hours of Bahrain will serve as a fitting finale for a racer who adapted and excelled across multiple disciplines during a remarkable motorsport journey.
Jenson Button’s career closes a chapter on one of Britain’s most respected racing talents. His legacy spans a maiden F1 title, a reinvention into sports car racing, and a professional attitude that earned respect throughout motorsport.