Jenson Button Reflects on His Final Race After 25 Years at the Top: “This Moment Is More Emotional Than Retiring From F1”

After a career spanning a quarter of a century, 2009 Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button finished his professional career in Bahrain with Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA, marking the end of an era for one of motorsport’s most respected and versatile drivers. From his debut as the youngest Brit in Formula 1 back in 2000 to conquering the world with Brawn GP’s BGP001 in 2009, Button’s journey has been one of grit, charm, and technical finesse — a driver who thrived when the odds were against him.

A career defined by adaptability and heart

Button’s professional racing story began with BMW Williams F1 and took him through Benetton-Renault and BAR-Honda, where in 2006 he scored his long-awaited maiden Grand Prix victory in the Hungarian rain. Two winless seasons followed, but his fairytale championship season with Brawn GP in 2009 changed everything. That year, he took six wins from the first seven races to secure a title that defined his legacy. Always up for a challenge, the newly crowned World Champion moved to McLaren for the remainder of his Formula 1 career, taking on and twice defeating fellow champions Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso.

Beyond Formula 1, Button continued to prove his versatility, capturing the Super GT Championship in 2018 with Team Kunimitsu’s Honda NSX-GT, competing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in LMP1, and stepping into GT3 racing with his own Jenson Team Rocket RJN.

Sports car success and endurance challenges

Reflecting on his recent years in the FIA World Endurance Championship, Rolex Testimonee Jenson Button spoke about how much the series — and his own approach to racing — has evolved. “Being a part of the competitive landscape as it has completely changed over the last few years,” he said. “The WEC is where the world’s best Hypercars and GT cars come together to compete, showcasing their skills and abilities. With so many new manufacturers and talented drivers entering the sport, achieving a podium at the Rolex 6 Hours of São Paulo with Cadillac was a particularly rewarding moment.”

Those achievements came as part of a broader chapter in Button’s racing life, one defined by curiosity and courage to try new disciplines. Alongside his Super GT triumph, he made memorable appearances in endurance racing, including stints at the Le Mans 24 Hours in LMP1 and, more recently, with the innovative Garage 56 NASCAR entry in 2023 — an audacious project that saw him share driving duties with Jimmie Johnson and Mike Rockenfeller.

“The Garage 56 project was special,” Button recalled. “We built a great relationship between the three of us, collaborating to develop a NASCAR stock car that would be competitive in the world’s largest endurance race. It’s definitely the teamwork that goes into it that makes it special. A lot of people questioned our car and wondered what it was we were competing for – but it was simple, we were competing against the circuit and the clock. The 24 Hours of Le Mans is closely connected to Rolex, so being able to compete there as a Testimonee holds a special place in my heart.”

A reflective farewell

Reflecting in his final start, Button admitted that this goodbye felt different: “This final race is very emotional. 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. When I retired from Formula 1, it was a different feeling, it was excitement because I knew there were lots of other motor sport categories that I had a chance to compete. This moment is more emotional, it’s sadder, but also great as I get to reflect.”

When asked what he will miss most about top-level motorsport, Button didn’t hesitate: “The potential to be fighting at the front and winning races.”

He also took a moment to reflect on what has guided him through his long career: “My strength lies in bringing everything together for a full season while keeping long-term goals and development in mind. Over the years endurance racing has evolved – it’s about human and machine working together in synergy, pushing the limits of what is possible. Much like a high-performance car, a watch is all about precision and mechanics. For brands like Rolex to have witnessed this evolution is significant as they understand the sport’s heritage and history. Rolex and motor sport are both at the pinnacle.”

Looking ahead

Though stepping away from professional racing, Button has said he plans to continue enjoying his classic cars, such as his Jaguar C-Type, for the sheer love of driving. After 25 years at the sharp end of global motorsport, Jenson Button leaves the stage as one of racing’s great all-rounders — a world champion who made speed look effortless and class look easy.

Through the years

From his Formula 1 debut with Williams to his final stint in the FIA World Endurance Championship, Jenson Button’s journey has been one of constant evolution. Explore our gallery of photos capturing his remarkable 25-year career from early F1 triumphs to endurance racing milestones that mark the end of an era, and a few glimpses of the classic machines we can expect to see him enjoying at future events like Goodwood Revival.

This feature was produced in collaboration with Rolex, with Jenson Button sharing his reflections as a Rolex Testimonee.