‘More awake and more alive’

Jenson Button says he feels “more awake and more alive” than he did at times in Formula 1 ahead of his full-time racing return at the 2024 World Endurance Championship (WEC).

The 44-year-old has made a string of one-off appearances in various racing cars since his F1 retirement in 2016.

But this season he will be in the driver’s seat across all eight WEC races for Hertz Team Jota.

It’s a challenge that an experienced and “fitter than ever” Button is relishing ahead of the opening race in Qatar on March 3, live on Eurosport and discovery+.

“I have been working a lot more on my fitness now, I would say I am fitter now than when I am in F1,” he told Eurosport.

“I feel more awake and more alive. I don’t get moments during the day when I am falling asleep, I am much more level and I am feel I am getting the best out of myself.

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“This is so exciting, so yes you are getting the best Jenson Button. I don’t know if I am as good as I was in F1. My eyesight is not as good, but then I wear glasses, so it is when I am in the car.

“There are lots of positives to take from me being a bit older, understanding what you go through as a racing driver, physically and mentally, the pressures, and hopefully that will show this weekend.”

Since stepping away from F1, Button has tried his hand at a number of other racing disciplines, including NASCAR, rallycross and Super GT.

He also competed in the World Endurance Championship in 2018, driving four races for SMP Racing.

He is now looking forward to committing himself to Hertz Team Jota for the entirety of the upcoming season.

“I think a lot of it was I was jumping in for one race which is great but you are not getting the best out of yourself,” he said.

“I wanted to come into a season knowing I could test enough, I could do a full season and really extract the best out of me. I think that’s the only fair way for me to go racing and also for the team.

“I had a couple of options for this year and this for me, every time I thought about this team or mentioned it I would do it with a smile on my face because I knew I would have so much more fun racing with this team.

“They are out and out racers. They want to win, they are so excited about that fight and that underdog story we have as a team.”

Button will be driving one of two Porsche 963s alongside compatriot Philip Hanson and Dane Oliver Rasmussen.

Reflecting on the team dynamic, Button said: “I have really enjoyed the process. It’s been fun.

“In a way you compromise on some things and it does take a while to get used to that, but having the feedback from three drivers driving exactly the same car is really good.

“You can go out on one ride and not feel like the car is working for you but you might be pushing a bit hard. You come in and the next driver and has exactly the same car and is able to drive it in exactly the same way. There’s so much learning to be done in this type of race which is great.

“I am enjoying it and I feel that we as a team like the same sort of car. We are on the same page most of the time which is important.”

How can I watch the World Endurance Championship in 2024?

Watch the 2024 WEC season, including 24 Hours of Le Mans, live on Eurosport and via streaming on discovery+ and eurosport.com.

For latest up-to-date schedules, click here.

World Endurance Championship 2024 Calendar

RoundEventVenueDate1Qatar 1812kmLusail International CircuitMarch 226 Hours of ImolaAutodromo de Enzo e Dino FerrariApril 2136 Hours of Spa-FrancorchampsCircuit de Spa-FrancorchampsMay 11424 Hours of Le MansCircuit de la SartheJune 15-1656 Hours of Sao PauloInterlagos CircuitJuly 146Lone Star Le MansCircuit of the AmericasSeptember 176 Hours of FujiFuji International SpeedwaySeptember 1588 Hours of BahrainBahrain International CircuitNovember 2Stream the 2024 World Endurance Championship on Eurosport and discovery+