Jenson Button steps down from WEC championship for 2026 season

Jenson Button, the 2009 Formula 1 world champion, has announced he will not continue his participation in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) with Jota Cadillac team for the 2026 season.

Despite being contracted with Jota until 2025 — Button has chosen not to pursue a full racing program, though emphasizing this isn’t retirement from racing.

“Life has got too busy with so many different things going on. It’s time I start thinking about the future more, and I want to spend more time with my family,” Button stated.

The British driver still plans to race in 2026, albeit not for a full season. When questioned about a possible return to NASCAR Cup Series — Button simply responded “Maybe, we’ll see.”

Sam Hignett, Jota team boss who just secured Cadillac’s first WEC victory at Interlagos, confirmed there will be a change in the driver lineup for next season. The announcement of Button’s replacement will be made after the WEC season finale in Bahrain this November.