Jenson Button Returns to Formula 1 in a New Role with Aston Martin
Jenson Button is back in the Formula 1 paddock, but not behind the wheel this time. The 2009 world champion has made a high-profile return to the sport after being announced as a Team Ambassador for Aston Martin on a multi-year agreement, marking a fresh chapter in his long and varied motorsport career.
Button had stepped away from competitive racing at the end of the 2025 World Endurance Championship season, seemingly closing the door on his time as an active driver. However, the 46-year-old Briton has wasted little time in reconnecting with F1, joining Aston Martin during what the team describes as a pivotal period in both its own development and the sport’s wider evolution.
In his new role, Button will represent Aston Martin at selected Formula 1 races and global events, while also taking part in partner activities and media engagements. Beyond public-facing duties, he is expected to contribute behind the scenes by sharing his vast experience with fans, partners, and potentially the team itself as it prepares for the significant regulation changes coming in 2026.
Speaking about his appointment, Button expressed clear enthusiasm for the project. He highlighted Aston Martin’s ambition and the timing of the move as key factors in his decision. According to Button, joining the team during such a transformative phase is “really exciting,” particularly with the sport entering a new era. He also revealed that Aston Martin’s upcoming works partnership with Honda played a major role in attracting him to the role.
The reunion with Honda carries strong personal significance for Button. The Japanese manufacturer powered him to his first Formula 1 victory at the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix, a breakthrough moment in his career. He later worked with Honda again during his final seasons at McLaren, making this new collaboration a fitting full-circle moment. Button has already turned his attention to the future, describing the 2026 season as “fascinating” and admitting he is eager to be involved when the new era begins, starting with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
Button’s appointment also sees him reconnect with Fernando Alonso, his former McLaren team-mate. Alonso remains Aston Martin’s lead driver alongside Lance Stroll, but any speculation about Button making a competitive comeback can be quickly dismissed. His agreement with Aston Martin is strictly non-driving, meaning fans will not see the former world champion racing in green.
The announcement adds another layer to Button’s long-standing connection with Formula 1. He made his F1 debut with Williams in 2000 before moving to Benetton, later rebranded as Renault, for the 2001 and 2002 seasons. From there, Button joined BAR, which evolved into the Honda works team, where he spent several years building toward his career-defining moment.
That moment arrived in 2009, when Button famously won the world championship with Brawn GP, one of the most remarkable title successes in the sport’s history. He then moved to McLaren in 2010, racing alongside Lewis Hamilton before later partnering Fernando Alonso. Button remained with McLaren until 2016 and made a one-off return in 2017 to stand in for Alonso at the Monaco Grand Prix.
Following his Formula 1 career, Button continued to compete across multiple disciplines, including Japan’s Super GT and the World Endurance Championship. He also raced four times at the Le Mans 24 Hours, most recently with the Cadillac Jota team. Alongside his racing activities, Button has stayed close to F1 as a respected pundit on Sky Sports and previously served as an ambassador for Williams.
Now, with Aston Martin, Button once again becomes part of Formula 1’s inner circle—bringing experience, credibility, and a champion’s perspective to a team with bold ambitions for the future.
