British racing legend Jenson Button, a former Formula 1 champion, is set to conclude his illustrious career with his final professional drive at the upcoming eight-hour race in Bahrain. Although Button retired from F1 in 2016, he has continued to compete in the World Endurance Championship. Known for his insightful analysis on Sky Sports, Button has left a lasting mark on the sport, having triumphed over Lewis Hamilton in fair competition.
Button rose to prominence in the early 2000s with the Renault team, missing out on the opportunity to be part of their dominant era due to being replaced by Fernando Alonso. Subsequently, he found success with Honda, securing his first F1 victory in 2006 after numerous podium finishes. His career took a dramatic turn when Honda withdrew from F1, but Button’s fortunes changed when Ross Brawn acquired the team, leading to Button’s fairy-tale championship win with Brawn GP.
Despite his successes, Button faced personal challenges and pressure during his championship-winning year, admitting to struggling with the high expectations he placed on himself. Moving to McLaren in 2010, Button engaged in a competitive rivalry with Hamilton, showcasing his driving prowess with notable victories in Canada and Japan. In 2011, he delivered exceptional performances but fell short of the title to Sebastian Vettel.
Over the years, Button has outperformed Hamilton in certain aspects, being one of the few drivers to have gained more points than the seven-time champion during their time as teammates. While Hamilton moved on to Mercedes, Button remained loyal to McLaren until his retirement from F1. Now, at 45, Button is bidding farewell to professional racing to prioritize spending time with his young family.
For Formula 1 enthusiasts, Sky offers a comprehensive viewing experience with live coverage of every practice, qualifying session, and race through the Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle, providing access to a range of TV channels and complimentary subscriptions to Netflix and Discovery+.