Few drivers have managed the transition from Formula 1 champion to multi-sport athlete as smoothly as Jenson Button. Since stepping away from F1 in 2017, the 2009 world champion has taken on Ironman triathlons and the World Endurance Championship, with a final professional race scheduled for late 2025.
World Championship titles: 1 (2009) ·
Grands Prix started: 306 ·
Career wins: 15 ·
Podium finishes: 50 ·
First F1 season: 2000 ·
Last F1 race: 2017 Monaco Grand Prix
Quick snapshot
- Won the 2009 F1 World Championship with Brawn GP (Wikipedia)
- Retired from F1 after the 2017 season (Formula1.com)
- Competes in triathlons and the World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC)
- Married to Brittny Ward; two children (Wikipedia)
- Exact net worth figure varies across sources
- Details of a potential future full-time WEC seat after 2025
- Whether Button will return to F1 in an official capacity
- Precise timing of his WEC exit beyond the 2025 season
- Final race: 8 Hours of Bahrain, November 2025 (Formula1.com)
- Potential focus on team ownership and brand ambassador roles (Formula1.com)
Twelve key data points, one pattern: Button’s career is defined by consistency across two decades and multiple disciplines.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jenson Alexander Lyons Button |
| Born | 19 January 1980, Frome, England |
| Nationality | British |
| F1 Championships | 1 (2009) |
| F1 Wins | 15 |
| F1 Podiums | 50 |
| F1 Pole Positions | 8 |
| F1 Career Points | 1,235 |
| Teams Driven For | Williams, Benetton, Renault, BAR, Honda, Brawn GP, McLaren |
| Spouse | Brittny Ward (married 2014) |
| Children | 2 (son Hendrix, daughter Lenny) |
| Net Worth (estimate) | approx. £100 million |
What is Jenson Button doing now?
Button hasn’t slowed down since leaving F1. He competes in triathlons, including Ironman events, and raced in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) for Hertz Team JOTA in 2024–2025.
Triathlon career and achievements
- Finished third in Ironman Canada in 2022 (Reddit, community source – confidence low, used as anecdotal)
- Regularly competes in Olympic-distance and half-Ironman events.
Brand endorsements and TV appearances
- Works as an ambassador for Formula 1 and other brands (Wikipedia)
- Makes regular appearances as a commentator and analyst for Sky Sports F1.
Racing in the World Endurance Championship
- Drove for Hertz Team JOTA in the WEC Hypercar class in 2024 and 2025 (Wikipedia)
- Button said the 8 Hours of Bahrain would be his final professional race (the official Formula 1 website)
Button’s varied post-F1 activities show a deliberate shift towards endurance and brand building.
Why did Button leave F1?
Button announced his retirement from F1 after the 2017 season, ending a 17-year career that included a world championship.
Decline in performance and motivation
- He stated he no longer felt the hunger to compete at the highest level (ESPN’s F1 coverage)
- His final season with McLaren saw only two podium finishes.
Lack of competitive opportunities
- McLaren was not consistently fighting for wins during his later years.
- Button explored options with other teams but decided to step away.
Desire for new challenges
- He pursued triathlon and later the World Endurance Championship as fresh pursuits.
Button traded F1’s intense spotlight for a varied athletic career. The result: he avoided the “one more season” trap that sidelines many champions, but he also gave up the chance to fight for podiums in a top-tier team.
Button’s decision to leave F1 was a calculated exit, avoiding the decline that often follows a champion’s peak.
How many times was Jenson Button world champion?
Button won the Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship once, in 2009 — a season many consider one of the sport’s greatest fairytales.
2009 championship with Brawn GP
- Drove for Brawn GP, a team that emerged from the ashes of Honda’s withdrawal.
- Secured 6 wins and 9 podiums in 17 races (Wikipedia)
- Clinched the title at the Brazilian Grand Prix with one race to spare.
Career statistics and achievements
- 15 race wins, 50 podiums, 8 pole positions, 1,235 career points (Wikipedia)
- One of only five drivers to win a world championship with a team that did not exist the previous season.
Button’s 2009 title remains a blueprint for resilience: when a team loses its factory support but refuses to fold, a champion can emerge from the rubble. The Brawn GP story is still referenced in business schools as a case study in lean innovation.
The 2009 championship is a cornerstone of Button’s legacy, illustrating how opportunity and skill can align.
Jenson Button’s F1 career timeline
Button’s path through Formula 1 spans 17 seasons, seven teams, and 306 grand prix starts.
Early career and Williams debut (2000)
- Debuted with BMW Williams at age 20, becoming the youngest British F1 driver at the time (Wikipedia)
- Scored his first points at the 2000 Brazilian Grand Prix.
Brawn GP championship (2009)
- Joined the newly formed Brawn GP after Honda’s withdrawal.
- Won six of the first seven races, dominating the early season.
McLaren years (2010–2017)
- Moved to McLaren alongside Lewis Hamilton in 2010.
- Scored 8 wins for McLaren, including a famous victory at the 2011 Canadian Grand Prix.
Retirement and legacy
- Announced his F1 retirement in 2017 (Formula1.com)
- Widely praised for his smooth driving style and racecraft (ESPN)
Button’s 17-season F1 career is a model of longevity and consistency across multiple team changes.
Who was the last fatal death in F1?
The most recent fatality in Formula 1 is French driver Jules Bianchi, who died in 2015 from injuries sustained at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix.
Jules Bianchi accident at 2014 Japanese Grand Prix
- Bianchi crashed into a recovery vehicle during wet conditions at Suzuka.
- He suffered severe head injuries and died in July 2015 (Wikipedia)
Safety improvements since Bianchi
- The accident led to the introduction of the Virtual Safety Car (VSC) and stricter recovery protocols.
- The halo cockpit protection device was also accelerated in development and mandated from 2018.
Bianchi’s legacy is the improved safety standards that now protect every F1 driver.
Jenson Button career timeline
- – Jenson Button born in Frome, England
- – Wins all 34 British Cadet karting races
- – Wins European Super A karting championship
- – F1 debut with BMW Williams; youngest British F1 driver
- – Wins F1 World Championship with Brawn GP
- – Drives for McLaren; wins 8 races
- – Last F1 race at Monaco Grand Prix; announces retirement
- – Competes in the F1 Esports Series as a driver
- – Finishes third in Ironman Canada
- – Races in FIA World Endurance Championship
Clarity check
Confirmed facts
- Button won the 2009 F1 World Championship (Wikipedia)
- He retired from F1 after the 2017 season (Formula1.com)
- He competes in triathlons and the World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC)
- He is married to Brittny Ward and has two children (Wikipedia)
What’s unclear
- Exact net worth figure varies across sources
- Details of a potential future full-time WEC seat
- Whether Button will return to F1 in an official capacity
- Precise timing of his WEC exit beyond the 2025 season
In their own words
“I don’t have the hunger anymore.”
Jenson Button, in an interview with ESPN For those interested in other racing career paths, you can learn more about Mick Schumacher IndyCar 2026. Mick Schumacher IndyCar 2026
“It was a dream season.”
Jenson Button, reflecting on 2009 (ESPN)
“Jenson had a very smooth driving style.”
Ross Brawn, former team principal (ESPN)
Button’s decision to walk away from F1 while still competitive, then build a second act in triathlon and endurance racing, sets him apart from many contemporaries. For young drivers looking at career longevity, his path offers a clear blueprint: race smart, diversify early, and know when to close one chapter to open another. For Formula 1 fans, the 8 Hours of Bahrain in late 2025 will mark the final checkered flag of a career that never stopped evolving.
motorsport.com, nytimes.com, reddit.com, youtube.com, fiawec.com
Frequently asked questions
How many F1 races did Jenson Button win?
Button won 15 Formula 1 races over his career (Wikipedia).
What is Jenson Button’s net worth?
Estimates place it at approximately £100 million, though exact figures vary.
Is Jenson Button still racing?
Yes, he competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship. His final professional race will be the 8 Hours of Bahrain in 2025 (Formula1.com).
What is Jenson Button’s height?
Button is 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) tall (Wikipedia).
Who is Jenson Button’s wife?
He is married to model Brittny Ward. They wed in 2014.
What is Jenson Button’s F1 number?
Button raced with number 22 during his F1 career (Wikipedia).
What teams did Jenson Button drive for?
Williams, Benetton, Renault, BAR, Honda, Brawn GP, and McLaren.
When did Jenson Button retire from Formula 1?
He retired after the 2017 season (Formula1.com).
James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Australia Watch, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.