Button closes professional chapter, will be ‘racing for fun’ in 2026

Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button has put to rest speculation about his future in top-level motorsport, making it clear he will not be racing professionally from 2026.

Button insists his competitive career will have reached its conclusion at the end of this year when he steps away from the World Endurance Championship and his commitments with Jota’s Cadillac programme.

Any future racing will therefore be purely for enjoyment, and mainly in the historic racing arena. With a growing collection of classic cars and a taste for fun over pressure, Button’s next lap promises to be a nostalgic ride.

No More One-Off Endurance Races

Button has enjoyed his time in the WEC’s Hypercar class, but the complexity of modern hypercars has him rethinking the possibility of committing to one-off stints like the Le Mans 24 Hours.

“If you want to race in endurance you have got to be in it the whole time,” he said, reflecting on his journey from Jota’s customer Porsche to Cadillac’s factory program in 2025, quoted by Motorsport.com.

“You need to have learnt what is happening with the car, the systems. Every time I get in the car there is something different and new learning again. When you jump in when you are 44 years of age, it definitely takes you longer than when you are in your 20s.”

Back in July, Button insisted he wasn’t retiring from racing entirely, teasing he’d be “racing something” in 2026, just not a full season. Now, he’s set the record straight: professional racing is off the table.

“I will not be racing professionally,” he clarified, emphasizing his new mantra: “racing for fun.”

His focus? Historic racing, where the vibes are as timeless as the cars. “I love historics for some reason; it’s my age obviously,” he quipped, embracing the charm of vintage machinery.

Over the past season, he has expanded his personal collection to include a Jaguar E-type, adding to a C-type once owned by five-time world champion Juan Manuel Fangio, as well as his Alfa Romeo GT Junior.

At this month’s Goodwood Revival, Button enjoyed success in his historic machines, taking a first victory in the RAC TT Celebration, sharing the C-type with Alex Buncombe.

A Wildcard Return to NASCAR?

While top class endurance racing is behind him, Button hasn’t ruled out the occasional modern challenge. He hinted that NASCAR could be an option, citing its simpler, more mechanical nature compared to Hypercars.

“NASCAR is very different [to Hypercar], because it is very mechanical,” he explained. “I could probably do that because I could jump in and feel what the car is doing: you don’t have all the systems, so it’s a lot easier.”

With a shift toward historic racing and selective, fun motorsport experiences, Button is clearly closing the chapter on professional competition, while keeping the thrill of driving very much alive.

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