Jenson Button Bows Out: 2009 F1 Champion Confirms Retirement After Calling Final Race “Unfair” Decision
After an illustrious career spanning nearly two decades, 2009 Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button has officially confirmed his full retirement from full-time professional racing. The British driver, who shared the McLaren garage with Lewis Hamilton between 2010 and 2012, revealed that the upcoming 8 Hours of Bahrain World Endurance Championship (WEC) race in November will mark the end of his journey behind the wheel.
Button’s career has been one defined by determination, adaptability, and moments of brilliance. His rise to F1 glory in 2009 with Brawn GP remains one of the sport’s greatest fairy tales — a story of a team reborn from the ashes of Honda Racing, which stunned the world by clinching both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships in their one and only season. Button’s cool-headed consistency and tactical brilliance earned him six wins from the opening seven races that year, ultimately securing him the world title and a place in motorsport history.
While his teammate Lewis Hamilton went on to dominate the hybrid era with Mercedes, Button remained loyal to McLaren, driving for the Woking-based outfit until 2016. His tenure with McLaren included several impressive podiums and a memorable victory in the rain-soaked 2011 Canadian Grand Prix, often hailed as one of the greatest comeback wins in F1 history. Despite being teammates with the future seven-time world champion, Button frequently held his own, even outscoring Hamilton over the course of the 2011 season.
Following his initial F1 retirement in 2016, Button made a brief return in 2017, substituting for Fernando Alonso at the Monaco Grand Prix while the Spaniard was competing in the Indianapolis 500. That one-off race would be his final Formula 1 appearance, closing a 17-season career that saw him achieve 15 Grand Prix victories and 50 podiums.
Since leaving the F1 grid, Button has kept himself busy across various motorsport categories worldwide. He competed in the Super GT Series in Japan, where he claimed the GT500 championship title in 2018, further proving his versatility. He also ventured into the World Endurance Championship and even tried his hand at the NASCAR Cup Series, showcasing his enduring passion for racing.
Beyond the cockpit, Button has been a familiar face on Sky Sports F1, serving as a respected pundit and analyst. His calm demeanor, technical insight, and wealth of experience have made him one of the most admired voices in the sport’s modern broadcasting landscape.
However, in a heartfelt interview with BBC Radio, Button revealed that his decision to step away completely from professional racing was not an easy one. He described it as an “unfair decision” — not toward his career achievements but toward his team and family, given how much of his time racing has consumed over the years.
“This will be my last race,” Button said. “I’ve always enjoyed Bahrain; it’s a great circuit, and I want to soak up every moment because this is the end of my professional racing career. I’ve loved my time with Jota in the WEC, but life has become incredibly busy. It wouldn’t be fair to the team or myself to continue into 2026 knowing I couldn’t give it my all.”
The 45-year-old driver cited family commitments as his main reason for retiring permanently. Button, who is a father of two, admitted that racing often kept him away from home for extended periods. “My kids are four and six. When you’re racing, you can be away from home for a week or more at a time. You miss so much, and you can’t get those moments back,” he said. “I’ve already missed a lot of milestones, and that was okay then — I understood it came with the job — but I’m not willing to continue like that for another season.”
His words echo a common theme among veteran athletes who eventually prioritize family over competition. Button’s decision to retire fully marks not only the end of an era but also a poignant reminder of the sacrifices professional drivers make to pursue their passion.
As Button prepares for his final competitive outing in Bahrain, fans across the globe will surely celebrate his remarkable contributions to motorsport. From his early days as a young hopeful in Williams and BAR Honda to his world championship triumph with Brawn GP, Button’s career embodies the spirit of perseverance and professionalism.
Though his chapter on the racetrack may be closing, Jenson Button’s influence on Formula 1 — both as a champion driver and an articulate ambassador for the sport — will continue to endure. For the man who once turned an underdog team into world champions, this farewell lap is not a goodbye to racing entirely, but a well-earned shift toward family, reflection, and legacy.
