F1 Champion Jenson Button Plans to Race Full Time for a Series Championship in 2024

Formula 1 champion Jenson Button enjoys testing his talent in various racing series, something that many drivers prefer to avoid, but the British driver says he wants to compete in a series full time once again in 2024.

“It’s great doing one-off races, but you don’t get the best out of yourself,” Button, the 1999 F1 champion says.

That’s why next year Button plans to compete full-time in endurance racing, either IMSA or the World Endurance Cup.

Since retiring from Formula 1 at the end of the 2016 season, Button has added the 2018 Super GT Series championship to his racing resume. He’s also raced in GT3 and rallycross. He made his NASCAR debut at the Circuit of the Americas earlier this year and co-drove NASCAR’s Garage 56 entry with Jimmie Johnson and Mike Rockenfeller in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Next on his racing agenda is NASCAR’s inaugural Chicago street race—Grant Park 220— with Rick Ware Racing, which receives support from Stewart-Haas Racing. His NASCAR endeavors this year end in August on the Indianapolis road course.

“I think for half the race at COTA, I thought, ‘I don’t want to do this again,’” Button says. “The other half of the race I thought, ‘This is awesome.’ Just awesome in the terms of the racing, the wheel-to-wheel action, not giving an edge. I definitely enjoyed that. That’s something you do miss in single seats, especially Formula One, because of the amount of downforce you have there isn’t so much wheel-to-wheel action. I felt that I had more wheel-to-wheel action on the first lap of the race at COTA than I do in a whole Grand Prix.”

Button believes many drivers don’t want to race in multiple series because it’s “uncomfortable.”

“They’ve found the route that works for them, something they’re confident in, and they’re very good at, and they don’t want to try something else because they might not be as competitive and they’re worried about losing that,” Button says. “I don’t worry about what people think of me if I’m not competitive in a Cup car. For me, it’s all about the learning. It’s all about the challenge of improving.

“I think a lot of drivers that are at the top level of one category, they’re worried about stepping out of their comfort zone, trying something new and not being as competitive. Whereas for me, I feel like I’ve got nothing to lose. I’ve won the world championship in F1. It’s what I set out to do. Now, I’m going racing because I love racing. I love learning new things. Those challenges are what keep me going. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be racing anymore.”