Button to leave WEC but ‘will be racing in something’ in 2026

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F1 world champion Jenson Button has announced that he will step away from his full-time role with Cadillac in the FIA World Endurance Championship at the conclusion of the 2025 season.

45-year-old cited growing family commitments and a packed personal schedule as key factors in his decision to scale back his racing commitments, though he made clear that his racing career is not over.

Button, who retired from F1 in 2016 – save for a one-off participation with McLaren at the Monaco Grand Prix in 2017, joined the British Jota Sport team in 2024 to compete in the WEC with a customer Porsche 963 LMDh, later transitioning to a factory Cadillac program in 2025.

His tenure in the series culminated in a career-best second-place finish at the 6 Hours of Sao Paulo last weekend. However, the demands of a full-season campaign have prompted the Briton to reevaluate his priorities.

“Life has got too busy with so many different things going on. It is a very busy schedule I have,” Button told Motorsport.com.

“It's about time I started thinking about the future a little bit more, and I want to spend more time with my family. It is unfair as well to the team: I probably don’t have enough time to give to it, especially next year.”

Future Racing Plans and NASCAR Speculation

While Button will bid farewell to WEC’s Hypercar class, he confirmed that retirement is not on the horizon.

“I will be racing in something next year, but not a full season,” he said, hinting at a part-time racing program in 2026.

When pressed about a potential return to NASCAR, where he competed in three Cup Series races with Rick Ware Racing in 2023, Button remained coy but didn’t rule it out.

“Maybe, we’ll see,” he responded.

Jenson Button with his wife, Brittny and their two children.

Button’s recent foray into top-tier sportscar racing wasn’t his first. In 2018, he raced a partial season in the WEC with SMP Racing in a BR1 LMP1 car, showcasing his versatility beyond Formula 1.

In addition to his racing endeavors, Button has balanced a media role, serving as a commentator for Sky Sports’ Formula 1 broadcasts at select Grands Prix.

Button’s decision marks the end of a significant chapter in his storied career, but his plans for part-time racing ensure fans will see the 2009 F1 World Champion back on track in some capacity next year.

As he shifts focus to family and future opportunities, the motorsport world awaits details on what will be the “something” that Button will be racing in next year.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.