WEC News: Jenson Button to retire as full-time driver

2009 Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button has confirmed that he will not have a full-time race seat next year, marking the end of a 28-year full-time racing career.

The 45-year old Briton is currently racing for Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA in the World Endurance Championship (WEC), but will relinquish his seat at the end of the season.

Button has been part of JOTA’s Hypercar top-class WEC program for two years, first racing the British squad’s customer Porsche 963 in 2024 and then staying on with the team as it became a factory Cadillac operation.

Together with Earl Bamber and Sebastien Bourdais, he finished second in last weekend’s 6 Hours of Sao Paulo, which marked his best result in the Hypercar class to date.

“Life has got too busy,” said Button. “There’s so many different things going on.

“It’s about time I start thinking about the future a little bit more. I want to spend more time with my family as well.

“It’s a very busy schedule I have, and it’s unfair as well to the team. I probably don’t have enough time to give to it, especially next year.”

“I’ll be racing in some things next year, but not a full season,” hinting at a 24 Hours of Le Mans ride.

This would mark the end of a full-time racing career for the Briton that started in Formula Ford in 1998, followed by a tenure in Formula 1 that lasted for nearly two decades and which peaked with the world championship driving for Brawn GP in 2009.

“I’m looking forward to next year, but first of all, there’s four great races here,” said Button prior to last weekend’s fifth round of the WEC season. “Obviously the car’s looking strong, so I’m going to enjoy those races.

“The team is great. The team are really cool. [It’s a] great bunch of drivers over the last two years and it’s a pretty spectacular championship and very competitive and multi-class racing is always fun. I’ve enjoyed my time here.

“I’m just going to go and have some fun. I’ve got four races to have some fun so that’s the aim.”