Revealed: The real reason why F1 world champion Jenson Button is racing in NASCAR

Jenson Button will join fellow F1 World champion Kimi Raikkonen at COTA.

Revealed: The real reason why F1 world champion Jenson Button is racing in NASCAR

Jenson Button (@RWR/Twitter)

Jenson Button, the 2009 Formula 1 World Champion, is scheduled to race the 2023 COTA Cup Series race in the No. 15 Ford Mustang for Rick Ware Racing. His Cup debut at the road course is facilitated by sponsors Mobile and Ford Giants Stewart Hass Racing. SHR will share its technical expertise with RWR for Button’s races. He is scheduled to drive in 2 more races after COTA, the Chicago Street Race, and the Indy Cup race.

Button will be paired with his former rival and ex-F1 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen. The 2007 F1 champion will drive the No:91 Trackhouse Racing Chevy at COTA. He drove the same car last year at Watkins Glen. Button is also part of NASCAR and Hendrick Motorsports 24 Hours if LeMans entry, Garage 56.

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During an exclusive interview with RACER, the champion driver revealed what inspired him to debut in the Cup series at the age of 43. He pointed out that the sport’s relaxed atmosphere and family-based nature inspired him. the former McLaren driver added that he wanted to try something after doing the same thing for many years in F1.

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“With NASCAR, it’s a much more relaxed atmosphere. Don’t get me wrong — the racing is very serious, and these are some of the best drivers in the world, but the atmosphere outside the car, the atmosphere at the track is a lot more relaxed,” Jenson Button said.

“It’s more of a family-based category, so I think that’s why we like it because it’s trying something different. We’ve done something the same for so many years, so to try something different is exciting,” Jenson Button added.

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Jenson Button opens up about the approach to families visiting drivers during races in F1

Jenson Button 1
Jenson Button

Button pointed out that F1 was never a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere like NASCAR. He said that the teams usually discouraged drivers from bringing in family members to the track so that there were no distractions.

“It felt so far removed from us as youngsters. I don’t want to be negative about Formula 1 because it is an amazing sport and I’m an F1 world champion so I spent most of my life there, but you’re so focused and your family doesn’t come to the races because your teams don’t really want them to be there, because they know your focus is so important,” he reflects.

“It’s very tough because it’s your life — it is everything. Everything you do is for Formula 1. I did it for 17 years and you’re in this world that you forget about everything else. It’s all that matters, is making you a better racing driver and a better Formula 1 driver. So when you step outside that, for me it’s exciting to do other things,” He added.

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