F1 world champion Jenson Button tips son for motorsport career – but not as a driver

Jenson Button told talkSPORT that his new campaign has got his son more into Formula 1 than his reputation as a world champion.

The former McLaren driver opened up on a potential future family legacy in motorsport – but not necessarily behind the wheel.

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F1 fans are no strangers to seeing a father and son both make it to the pinnacle of racing, with 16 combinations throughout history.

However, Button admitted it was unlikely that his six-year-old son Hendrix would follow in the footsteps of a certain Max Verstappen.

Nevertheless, the 2009 F1 world champion refused to rule out a potential future role on the pitwall or even in the factory.

Button Jr was part of his famous father’s global initiative by F1 to discover the first-ever Hot Wheels ‘Tiniest Team Principal’.

The 46-year-old explained to talkSPORT’s Hawksbee and Jacobs: “There are so many cool jobs in Formula 1, and it’s just basically spreading the word and making it exciting to kids.

“When I grew up, I was pushing Hot Wheels around all day, living room, up the stairs to the bedroom, and that was my childhood.

“Kids have so many options these days, so I think their eyes aren’t on motorsport as much, but we’re trying to change that because this is where it all starts. It’s the future of the sport.”

Button added that those other jobs in F1 were a core part of how he was able to win his one and only championship in the sport.

“It’s the reason why I won a championship,” he continued. “It’s teamwork. It’s working with great people.

“It’s also about leadership. Having a great leader who brings everyone together and who can maximise their ability.”

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Button on his son’s future F1 ambitions

“So yeah, the team aspect of it is really important,” Button told talkSPORT. “And for example, my son, he’s six now.

“Is he going to be a racing driver? Probably not actually, but on the engineering side maybe.

“He was involved with the campaign as well, which has been quite fun.

“So you will see him on the advert, on socials, which would be quite cool.

“And because of that, he’s got more into F1 than [from] me being his dad – It’s kind of weird!”

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Highlighting the less glamorous aspects of F1

Button also tipped his ex-teammate Lewis Hamilton to fight for his first Ferrari main race win at the Canadian Grand Prix this weekend.

Yet, off the back of the glitz of the celebrity-fuelled Miami GP, he was keen to stress the hard work that goes on behind the scenes.

“It is glamorous, but it’s also hard work,” Button revealed.

“You see the glamorous side on TV, but the behind-the-scenes stuff, especially for the mechanics, is long, long hours and a lot of travel, a lot of time away from home, but it’s worth it.

“Formula 1 is in such a great place and forever growing that it’s where everyone wants to be.”