Jenson Button has officially announced his retirement from professional motorsport. The former 2009 world champion will participate for the last time at the Eight Hours of Bahrain event in early November before concluding his racing career.
After retiring from Formula 1 in 2016 and making a brief return for a one-off race at the 2017 Monaco Grand Prix with McLaren, Button ventured into various racing series such as the NASCAR Cup Series and the World Endurance Championship.
Despite continuing his role as a Sky Sports F1 pundit, the 45-year-old driver disclosed in July his decision to step back from full-time racing and depart from his position at Jota Cadillac. Button emphasized that he is now certain that his competitive racing days are coming to an end.
“This upcoming race will mark the end of my professional racing journey. Bahrain has always been a track I enjoy, and I plan to savor every moment because this will be my final race,” Button shared on BBC Radio Somerset.
Reflecting on his time with Jota in the World Endurance Championship, Button acknowledged that his increasingly busy life, particularly with young children aged four and six, made it challenging to commit to another full season of racing without sacrificing valuable family time.
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Following a challenging start in Qatar and Imola, Button’s team showcased strong performances at Spa and Le Mans, culminating in a podium finish in Sao Paulo. With the American Manufacturers’ Championship battle against Porsche intensifying, Button, alongside teammates Earl Bamber and Sebastien Bourdais, aims to propel Cadillac to victory, currently trailing Porsche by 22 points heading into the final round in Bahrain.
“We are still in contention for the Constructors’ Championship. While winning is a tough feat, securing second place is within reach,” Button remarked post his retirement announcement, expressing anticipation for the upcoming race in Bahrain, which he deems as a fitting conclusion to his illustrious racing career.