Button: I’m in Better Shape Now Than I Was in F1

Jenson Button believes he’s in better “all-round” physical shape now ahead of his return to the FIA World Endurance Championship than he was when he raced in Formula 1.

The 2009 F1 world champion has joined Hertz Team JOTA for his first WEC campaign since the 2018/19 super season, and will share one of the team’s two customer Porsche 963s with Phil Hanson and Oliver Rasmussen.

After several years away from top-level competition, Button returned to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2023 as part of the Garage 56 NASCAR project, which he always insisted would be a precursor to a return to full-time racing.

The 44-year-old has since made two GTP outings in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, driving for JDC-Miller Motorsports in last year’s Motul Petit Le Mans and then joining Wayne Taylor Racing with Andretti for last month’s Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Speaking to Sportscar365 at Daytona, where he helped the team to a podium finish, Button underlined just how much he is looking forward to having a settled program ahead of him.

“I’ve still got the hunger, the desire, and I still think I’m quick,” he said. “Fitness-wise, I’ve worked on certain areas that I didn’t in F1, like strength, which you need to in your 40s. I’ve been doing reaction work, boxing and stuff. 

“I feel like I’m in better all-round shape than when I was in F1, when I had to be stick thin. 

“It’s great to be back. The wife gave me a pass, and she knows I’m a better person when I’m racing. She knew I missed it. That’s why I’m back full-time this year, because in five years I will probably be too old. 

“It was great jumping in different things, SUPER GT, some GT3, Baja… but you don’t have enough time in the car to adapt properly. 

“Now I feel so much more comfortable and confident jumping in and knowing I have a full season ahead of me.”

JOTA impressed in its first season of running the 963 last year despite only taking delivery of the car ahead of the third round of the season at Spa, enjoying a brief spell in the lead at Le Mans and frequently challenging the works Porsches.

The British outfit has expanded to two cars for the coming season, which Button feels will only enhance the team’s competitiveness further.

“As long as there’s a bit of parity between LMH and LMDh,” said Button when asked about his prospects of fighting for wins. “As a LMDh car and team, they’re going to do a good job. 

“Having two cars is better, and although it takes a bit of time for those teams to work closely together, the important thing is we’re under the same roof, we’re in the same debriefs.

“Going for overall honors in a car that led some of the race last year, there’s every possibility that they can be [similarly] competitive again.

“The start [at Le Mans] is going to be awesome with so many cars in the top class. Really excited about it. But there’s a lot of work to do to be ready for that.”