2009 Formula 1 champion Jenson Button has spoken out ahead of his final World Endurance Championship race before he retires from racing.
The British driver, who has raced for Team Jota in the championship for the last couple of seasons, confirmed to BBC Radio Somerset that the final round in Bahrain will be his last as he puts his focus on his family.
“This will be my last race. I’ve always liked Bahrain; I think it’s a fun track, and I’m going to enjoy it as much as I can because this will be the end of my professional racing career,” Button said.
He added: “I’ve really enjoyed my time with Jota in WEC, but my life has got way too busy and it’s not fair on the team or on myself to go into 2026 and think that I’m going to have enough time for it.
“My kids are four and six, and you’re away for a week and you miss so much – you don’t get this time back.
“I feel like I’ve missed a lot the last couple of years, which has been fine because I knew that would happen, but I’m not willing to do that again for another season.”
Although Button has decided to step away from full-time racing, he has kept the door open for returning to events in the classic cars he owns, which could include outings at the famous Goodwood Revival or Goodwood Festival of Speed.
“I’ve got classic cars I love to race and for me that’s exciting because it’s mine – a car that I own – and I love the mechanical aspect,” he continued.
“It’s very different to the cars I race in WEC and F1, you’re really connected to it which I love, having to heel and toe, getting the gear shift just right, no aero, it’s all mechanical.”
After making his F1 debut in 2000 with Williams, the 45-year-old driver had stints at Benetton/Renault in 2001 and 2002, BAR/Honda/Brawn from 2003 until 2009 and McLaren from 2010 to 2017. He won the drivers’ championship with Brawn GP in 2009. Following his F1 career, Button has taken part in Super GT, endurance racing, the Race of Champions, and the NASCAR Cup Series.
Aside from racing, he regularly appears as a pundit on Sky Sports F1 and is a senior advisor for Williams Racing.
