Farewell at the Finish Line; Jenson Button to Bring Professional Racing Career to a Close
In what marks the end of a remarkable motorsport journey, 2009 Formula One World Championship champion Jenson Button has confirmed that next month’s 8 Hours of Bahrain will be the final race of his professional career.
At 45, the British veteran—with a record that includes 15 GP victories, 306 starts and a memorable title run in 2009 for Brawn GP—has chosen to call time on full-time racing, citing a desire to prioritise family and a life beyond the intense grind of elite motorsport.
A Career Forged in Speed and Surprise
Button’s story is one of perseverance and peak achievement in Formula 1. He debuted in 2000 with Williams Racing and navigated his way through the sport until the fairy-tale 2009 season, where Brawn GP defied expectations and claimed both driver and constructor titles—a triumph Button invariably is linked with.
After stepping away from full-time F1 racing at the end of 2016, with a one-off return for McLaren Racing at the 2017 Monaco Grand Prix, Button embarked on a second career chapter.
He tried his hand at other disciplines—from Japan’s Super GT to the ﹙24 Hours of Le Mans and the — and in recent years competed in the top-flight sports-car arena with Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA in the FIA World Endurance Championship.
Why Now? Family, Focus and a Final Send-Off
In announcing his decision, Button explained:
> “This will be my last race… I’ve always liked Bahrain, I think it’s a fun track… and I’m going to enjoy it as much as I can because this will be the end of my professional racing career.”
He cited his family commitments—his children still young—and the toll of being away for long endurance events:
> “My life has got way too busy and it’s not fair on the team or on myself to go into 2026 and think I’m going to have enough time for it.”
Button has indicated that while he will retire from full-time professional racing, he may still dip into select events or continue racing classic cars for enjoyment rather than obligation.
A Proper Farewell at Bahrain
The 8 Hours of Bahrain, scheduled for 8 November, represents the final round of the WEC season and will therefore serve as Button’s swan-song on the professional circuit.
His choice of Bahrain is fitting: a challenging circuit that he says he enjoys. For Button, it’s about finishing on his own terms—on his own wheel-turn, so to speak.
Legacy Beyond the Numbers
Beyond the tally of wins and podiums, Button’s legacy includes adaptability and longevity: succeeding at the pinnacle of single-seater racing, transitioning to endurance and sports-car formats, and maintaining competitiveness into his mid-forties. His presence in the paddock will also continue through his work as a commentator and pundit.
As the lights fade on his professional racing career, the motorsport world faces the reality that one of the sport’s more affable and universally respected champions will soon be off the starting grid.
But Button’s decision is rooted in choosing the right moment, for the right reasons—a message perhaps as important as any checkered flag.