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Button eyes Le Mans dream with Valkyrie amid Triple Crown talk

Jenson Button has never been short of admiration for motorsport’s greatest endurance tests – but the former F1 world champion has now admitted he would love to get back behind the wheel for one very specific challenge: Le Mans in Aston Martin’s Valkyrie.

The 2009 F1 world champion and Aston Martin ambassador revealed that while the sport’s famed Triple Crown remains largely out of reach for him, the lure of the Circuit de la Sarthe still burns brightly –especially if it involves cutting-edge machinery from his current manufacturer.

And in classic paddock fashion, Button left the door tantalisingly ajar for a dream collaboration.

‘Perhaps we can make it happen’

Button’s comments carried both nostalgia and ambition as he reflected on his past endurance racing efforts and what still tempts him today.

“The Monaco Grand Prix is part of the motorsport Triple Crown alongside the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Indy 500. I've completed one leg but I don't envisage getting all three,” the Briton wrote in his Jenson’s Journal published on the Aston Martin F1 website.

“I've had a couple of attempts at Le Mans, but winning there hasn't quite happened.

“I'd love to drive the Aston Martin Valkyrie around Le Mans one day though. Perhaps we can make it happen. It would be my chance to finally drive an Adrian Newey-designed car.

“As for the Indy 500? I've got huge respect for those drivers but that's not for me.

“Fernando probably has the best shot of anyone at completing the Triple Crown because he's already won Monaco and Le Mans, and he's come close at Indy, having led there. If he wants another go at it, he absolutely has a chance.”

The mention of Aston Martin’s Valkyrie hypercar – designed with input from legendary engineer Adrian Newey – adds a particularly enticing dimension to Button’s ambition, hinting at a potential bridge between F1 pedigree and endurance racing fantasy.

The Triple Crown: Motorsport’s ultimate club

The Triple Crown of Motorsport remains one of the most exclusive achievements in global sport, combining victory at the Monaco Grand Prix, the Indianapolis 500, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Only one driver in history has ever completed it: British racing icon Graham Hill, whose versatility across disciplines cemented his legendary status.

©Twitter

In addition to Alonso, another modern Triple Crown contender is seven-time Grand Prix winner Juan Pablo Montoya, who has also ticked off two legs of the trio.

The Colombian triumphed at the Indianapolis 500 in 2000 and 2015 and claimed victory at Monaco in 2003, but Le Mans remains the elusive final piece of his personal puzzle.

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For Button, the Triple Crown is no longer a realistic personal target, but his comments underline how powerful the Le Mans allure remains – especially when paired with hypercar technology and modern manufacturer ambitions.

And with Aston Martin pushing further into top-level endurance racing, his teasing final line may not be as hypothetical as it sounds.

After all, in motorsport, “perhaps we can make it happen” is often where the most interesting stories begin.

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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.

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