Former F1 champion Jenson Button has revealed plans to take a step back from full-time racing in 2026.
Jenson Button, the 2009 Formula 1 World Champion, has officially announced that he plans to step back from full-time racing at the conclusion of the current motorsport season. The British driver, now 45, shared the news in an interview with Telegraph Sport, explaining that the increasingly demanding schedule of his racing commitments no longer fits with the pace of his life off the track.
“Something’s got to give,” Button admitted. “Next year, I’ll probably take a slight back step in terms of I won’t be doing a full season. I’ve got so many things going on and I just can’t fit it all in.”
Button, who claimed his F1 title with Brawn GP in 2009, retired from the pinnacle of motorsport in 2016. He made a one-off return in 2017, stepping in for Fernando Alonso at McLaren during the Monaco Grand Prix while Alonso competed in the Indy 500. Despite his departure from F1, Button never fully stepped away from racing.
Over the past several years, he has remained active in a variety of international racing disciplines. From competing in Japan’s Super GT series—where he won the GT500 title in 2018—to endurance racing and even venturing into the world of NASCAR, Button has continued to prove his versatility behind the wheel. Most recently, he participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, one of the sport’s most iconic endurance races, as part of the Cadillac Hertz Team Jota. Alongside teammates Sébastien Bourdais and Earl Bamber, Button started strong from second on the grid but ultimately finished eighth, still chasing a win at Le Mans to move one step closer to motorsport’s elusive “Triple Crown.”
Despite a racing career that spans more than two decades and multiple disciplines, Button indicated that it’s becoming harder to dedicate the necessary time to his commitments on track. “It’s very unlikely I’ll do a full season next year just because of timing,” he explained. “I definitely want to be racing in certain things here and there. I just can’t put as much time as needed to one side for racing. You know, kids and life—it’s too busy this year.”
Button’s legacy is already firmly established. In addition to his F1 championship and 15 Grand Prix victories, he has earned podiums in the World Endurance Championship and the IMSA Sportscar Championship. His brief stint in NASCAR further showcased his adaptability and passion for racing at the highest levels, regardless of the format.
Currently, Button also serves as a pundit and analyst for Sky Sports F1, contributing expert commentary throughout the season. He was recently seen covering the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix, continuing to share his insights with fans and viewers around the world.
Looking ahead, Button is set to complete five more races this season before shifting gears into a lighter schedule in 2026. While it may mark the end of his full-time racing era, it’s clear that Button won’t be stepping away from motorsport entirely. As he puts it, “I’ve had a fun career and hopefully the next five races this year are going to be awesome and we’re going to end on a high.”
