Button on why his final race felt ‘sadder’ than leaving F1

After more than two decades of chasing chequered flags across the world, Jenson Button has drawn the final line under his extraordinary racing career – and by his own admission, the moment feels heavier than when he walked away from Formula 1.

From his 2000 debut with Williams to the fairy-tale 2009 World Championship win with Brawn GP, Button’s journey has been one of resilience, precision, and quiet determination.

In addition to the two aforementioned teams, he also competed with BAR, Honda, and McLaren, racking up a monumental 306 Grands Prix starts before stepping away from Formula 1 at the end of 2016. Yet even after the F1 chapter closed, the fire to compete never faded.

The Briton went on to explore new racing horizons – from Japan’s Super GT, to sportscar and rallycross events, to a NASCAR cameo. Most recently, Button returned to full-time competition in the World Endurance Championship with Jota, where he captured a season-best second place last summer at the 6 Hours of São Paulo.

Last weekend, his final professional race, which unfolded at the Bahrain 8 Hours, marked the end of an era for the 45-year-old racer.

“This final race was very emotional,” Button said in an interview with Rolex, relayed by Crash.net.

“I’ve had a very long career in professional racing, and I'm still enjoying it and happy that I'm still able to give it my all and be competitive - even at 45 years old. But life has become too busy.”

More Emotional, Sadder Than Leaving F1

Unlike the thrill that accompanied his F1 farewell nearly a decade ago, Button confessed that stepping away from all forms of professional motorsport carried a deeper sense of finality.

“When I retired from Formula 1, it was a different feeling; it was excitement because I knew there were lots of other motorsport categories that I had a chance to compete in,” he said.

“This moment was more emotional, it was sadder, but also great as I'm able to reflect.”

There’s a wistful grace in his words – the sentiment of a man who has given everything to a sport that defined his life, and who now allows himself the space to breathe and look back with pride.

Still a Racer at Heart

Though Button is closing the curtain on professional competition, the pleasure of driving won’t disappear completely. The 2009 world champion has said he’ll continue to appear at historic car events such as the Goodwood Revival – not to chase podiums, but for the sheer joy of motoring.

“I don't feel like I've left anything on the table,” he told the BBC. “I'm content with what I've achieved.”

For a driver whose career embodied both grace and grit, those words resonate like the perfect final lap – measured, reflective, and fulfilled.

And so, as the engines fall silent and the lights dim on Jenson Button’s remarkable racing odyssey, the paddock bids farewell not only to a champion, but to a true gentleman racer who never stopped finding joy in the speed of life.

Read also: Button offers wisdom on Piastri’s ‘tricky’ title fight

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