Jenson Button to Conclude Full-Time WEC Campaign After 2025 Season

Jenson Button, the celebrated Formula 1 world champion, is set to significantly alter his racing commitments, specifically his full-time involvement in the World Endurance Championship. This strategic shift is driven by an increasingly packed schedule and a desire to dedicate more time to his family. While he will depart from his current full-time role with the Jota Cadillac team following the 2025 season, Button has clarified that this is not a complete withdrawal from competitive motorsport. His future will involve a more selective, part-time racing schedule, maintaining his enduring connection to the sport he loves.
Former F1 Champion Jenson Button to Scale Back WEC Involvement for 2026 Season
In a significant announcement on July 16, 2025, Jenson Button, the esteemed 2009 Formula 1 world champion and current Hypercar driver for the Jota Cadillac team, revealed his intention to conclude his full-time participation in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) after the upcoming 2025 season. The 45-year-old British racing icon confirmed he will transition to a part-time racing schedule from 2026 onwards, prioritizing personal commitments and a demanding professional life.
Button's decision stems from the complexities of balancing a rigorous racing calendar with his other professional engagements, including his role as a pundit for Sky TV's Formula 1 coverage, and most importantly, his family life. He openly expressed that his current commitments have become overly burdensome, stating, “Life has become too busy with so many different things happening – my schedule is extremely demanding. It's time for me to begin thinking more about the future, and I truly wish to spend more time with my family.” He further acknowledged the impact on his current team, adding, “It's also not fair to the team; I probably don't have enough time to commit to it, especially for next year.”
Despite stepping away from full-time WEC competition, Button emphasized that his career in motorsport is far from over. He firmly declared, “I will be racing in something next year, but it won't be a full season.” When questioned about a potential return to the NASCAR Cup Series, where he made three appearances in 2023, Button remained non-committal, hinting at various possibilities. His extensive post-Formula 1 career has seen him compete across a diverse range of disciplines, including a previous stint in the WEC during the 2018-19 season with SMP Racing's LMP1 program, a successful two-year tenure in the Super GT Series with Team Kunimitsu Honda – where he notably clinched the title in 2018 alongside Naoki Yamamoto – and participation in the British GT Championship, Extreme E with his own teams, the IMSA SportsCar Championship, and the Nitro Rallycross Championship.
Sam Hignett, the principal of Jota, whose team recently secured a historic maiden WEC victory for Cadillac at Interlagos, subtly alluded to Button’s impending departure. While discussing the 2026 driver lineup for Cadillac’s factory WEC squad, Hignett confirmed there would be "one change" due to a driver's publicly stated future. He chose not to elaborate on Button’s replacement, indicating that an official announcement would not be made until after the WEC season concludes in Bahrain in November.
Jenson Button's decision to reduce his full-time racing commitments marks the end of an era in the World Endurance Championship, yet it opens a new chapter for the versatile driver. It serves as a powerful reminder that even at the pinnacle of professional motorsport, the demands of a high-octane career must eventually yield to the equally compelling call of family and personal well-being. Button's continued presence in selective racing ventures ensures that his considerable talent and passion will still grace the tracks, albeit on his own terms.