Jenson Button set for final race of professional career
Jenson Button has confirmed that the upcoming 8 Hours of Bahrain will be the final race of his professional career.
The 45-year-old told BBC Radio Somerset, "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."
The Brit has spent the last two years racing for Team Jota in the World Endurance Championship. This follows stints in Extreme E, rallycross, hill climbs, and the world famous 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Undoubtedly, Button’s professional career will be remembered most for his exploits in Formula 1, where he claimed the 2009 World Championship with Brawn GP. His time in F1 spanned from 2000 to 2017, during which he participated in 306 Grands Prix, winning 15.
“My life has got way too busy”
The move to finish his professional career was influenced by a lack of family time during his spell with Team Jota, with the British driver unable to commit to another season in the WEC.
"I've really enjoyed my time with Jota in WEC, but my life has got way too busy and it's not fair on the team or on myself to go into 2026 and think that I'm going to have enough time for it," Button said.
"My kids are four and six, and you're away for a week and you miss so much, you don't get this time back," he added.
Button still set to race in the future
Despite Button’s professional career coming to an end, he will continue to compete as an amateur, having raced in both his Jaguar E-Type and C-Type at this year's Goodwood Revival.
"I've got classic cars I love to race and for me that's exciting because it's mine - a car that I own - and I love the mechanical aspect," he said.
"It's very different to the cars I race in WEC and F1, you're really connected to it, which I love, having to heel and toe, getting the gear shift just right, no aero, it's all mechanical."
Jenson Button’s final professional race at the 8 Hours of Bahrain takes place on Saturday, 8 November from 11:00 am – 7:00 pm UK time.
words: Mike Booth
pictures: Lotus