Jenson Button has officially announced his retirement from competitive motorsport. The former 2009 world champion will participate in his final race at the Eight Hours of Bahrain in early November before concluding his racing career.
Having retired from Formula 1 in 2016 and making a one-off return at the 2017 Monaco Grand Prix with McLaren, Button has since competed in various series such as the NASCAR Cup Series and the World Endurance Championship.
The 45-year-old, who currently serves as a pundit on Sky Sports F1, had previously indicated in July that he would be stepping back from full-time racing and departing from his role with Jota Cadillac. Now, Button has confirmed that he is indeed nearing the end of his racing journey.
“This upcoming race will mark my final appearance. Bahrain has always been a track I enjoy, and I intend to savor the experience as it signifies the conclusion of my professional racing career,” Button shared with BBC Radio Somerset.
Expressing his reasons for stepping back, Button mentioned the demands of his busy life and the desire to spend more time with his young children. Reflecting on missing important moments due to racing commitments, he emphasized the importance of being present for his family.
As Button prepares for his farewell race, fans of Formula 1 can catch all the action live with Sky’s new Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle, which also offers access to over 100 TV channels along with complimentary subscriptions to Netflix and Discovery+.
Despite facing challenges earlier in the season at Qatar and Imola, Button and his teammates, Earl Bamber and Sebastien Bourdais, made a strong comeback with notable performances at Spa and Le Mans before clinching their only podium finish of the year in Sao Paulo.
With the American Manufacturers’ Championship battle intensifying against Porsche, Button’s team is determined to close the 22-point gap in the final round in Bahrain.
“We are still in contention for the Constructors’ Championship. While aiming for a win is a tough challenge, securing second place is within reach,” Button stated following his retirement announcement.
Looking ahead to his last race, Button expressed his eagerness to enjoy the Bahrain circuit one more time, highlighting his fondness for the track and acknowledging the significance of the event as the conclusion of his illustrious racing career.