Jenson Button, current Cadillac World Endurance Championship driver and 2009 Formula 1 world champion, has revealed that 2025 may mark the end of his full-time racing career. As he prepares for Le Mans with Jota, Button openly discussed his likely departure from regular competition, emphasizing his enduring passion for endurance racing and the complexities of balancing his professional pursuits with family life. The focus keyword,
“Jenson Button considers 2025 last full racing season,”
is central to his statements at Le Mans, where he faces competitors and reflects on his journey.
A Storied Career Across Disciplines
At 45, Jenson Button stands as a highly celebrated athlete, having retired from Formula 1 in 2016 but continuing to make his mark in motorsport. Since leaving F1, he has competed in full seasons in Japan’s Super GT series during 2018 and 2019, participated in a World Endurance Championship ‘superseason‘ with an LMP2 entry, and added one-off appearances in events such as DTM, British GT, Extreme E, NASCAR Cup Series, and IMSA SportsCar Championship. His versatility as a driver has kept him firmly in the spotlight across different racing disciplines and continents.
After a return to Le Mans in 2023 with a special Hendrick Motorsport NASCAR Garage 56 entry, Button took on his first full racing campaign since 2019 last year in the WEC with the Jota team, driving a customer Porsche 963. He achieved a best result of sixth at the 6 Hours of Fuji and finished ninth at Le Mans with teammates Phil Hanson and Oliver Rasmussen.
Transitioning with Jota to Cadillac for Le Mans 2025
Continuing into 2025, Button remains partnered with Jota, now transitioning from Porsche to Cadillac machinery. Alongside Earl Bamber and Sebastien Bourdais, Button arrives at Le Mans coming off a season-best sixth at Spa, aiming for further success. The car—number 38—brings together experienced drivers and signals a strong push in the latter part of the WEC calendar, with five rounds including the iconic 24-hour Le Mans event still ahead.
Personal Reasons Behind Button’s Decision
In his remarks at Le Mans ahead of the practice and qualifying sessions, Button addressed the motivations behind his decision to step back after 2025.
“I love endurance racing. I’ve always taken a shine to it through my racing career in F1,”
he shared, highlighting his enduring appreciation for the challenge and allure of long-distance competition. Despite this, Button also admitted that external factors, such as the impact of COVID-19 and missed opportunities, influenced the path of his career. Entering his mid-40s, he felt compelled to test his remaining capabilities and pursue his ambition of success at Le Mans.
Button emphasized his strong connections within the Jota team, particularly with team owner Sam Hignett and David Clark, describing the environment as both professional and personally meaningful. Still, he acknowledges the constraints imposed by a demanding schedule:
“This will probably be my last full year of racing. I’ve got so many things going on, and I kind of need to grow up!”
The desire to be present for his family is another pivotal factor, with Button admitting,
“I’ve got a family. That’s the difficult bit. This year I am away a lot from the family. I don’t want to miss too much of my kids growing up.”
Looking to the future, he explained,
“Next year I will still race but it will definitely be [scaled back] and for fun. In my 60s and 70s I will still be racing but it won’t be at Le Mans.”
Cadillac’s Braking Improvements as Competition Intensifies
As Le Mans practice begins, the Cadillac team, though hovering near the edge of the top ten after the official test day, remains hopeful of a strong showing. Button has confidence in Cadillac’s capabilities, while recognizing the significant advantage held by Ferrari and Toyota entering the event. He shared his optimism tempered by realism:
“I think the car is relatively quick,”
he said. Button stressed that the nature of a 24-hour race means consistency, strategy, and minimizing mistakes become just as critical as raw pace.
He pointed out that refining braking performance is central to their challenge, noting how critical it is for positioning the car well and achieving the best exits. Button was clear about the team’s preparedness:
“We know what we need to do. And we’ve done it. We have the data.”
Impact and What the Future Holds
Button’s decision to wind down his full-time racing commitments marks the end of an era for both his fans and colleagues. As a world champion who has succeeded in diverse racing formats, his influence on motorsport is significant. The collaborative spirit within teams like Jota, and the experience he brings to brands such as Cadillac, will continue to resonate beyond his final full-time campaign. Button’s focus keyword—Jenson Button considers 2025 last full racing season—reflects not just a personal turning point but a major moment in the world of endurance competition. While his passion for motorsport endures, the adjustment to a scaled-back program demonstrates his evolving priorities as both athlete and father, setting the stage for the next phase of his storied career.
