At 45 years old
Former Formula 1 world champion ends racing career
Updated 11/01/2025 – 9:34 a.mReading time: 1 min.
Eight years ago, Jenson Button drove in Formula 1 for the last time. But his racing career continued. But now he’s putting an end to it.
Jenson Button will climb into the cockpit for the last time at the beginning of November. The former Formula 1 world champion has announced that he will end his career as a professional racing driver. Even at the age of 45, the Briton was still racing, having last competed in the premier class in 2017. The Brit will take part in the endurance race in Bahrain for the last time.
Speaking to the BBC, Button said: “This will be my last race. I’ve always liked Bahrain, it’s a fun track. I’m going to enjoy it as much as I can because this will be the end of my professional racing career.”
He didn’t think about his decision for long. His everyday life has now become “much too hectic,” said Button. It wouldn’t be fair to the team or himself to start the 2026 season when he doesn’t have the time to do it.
A crucial factor: his family. His children are four and six years old. Button said that as a racing driver he is often on the road and as a result he misses out on a lot of things in his children’s lives. This time cannot be brought back.
He has already missed a lot in the past few years. That was still acceptable to him at the time – “because I knew that would happen.” But he doesn’t want to complete another season under these circumstances.