PROFILE

A Champion's New Challenge in Endurance Racing

by Portfolio Magazine
Photos courtesy of Rolex
09 Jul 2025

Rolex Testimonee and F1 World Champion Jenson Button returns to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, driven by precision, perseverance, and the enduring spirit of motorsport.

As the motorsport world prepared for the 2025 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a familiar name returned to the storied Circuit de la Sarthe. Jenson Button, the 2009 FIA Formula 1® Drivers’ World Champion and Rolex Testimonee, is back – this time with Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA, ready to confront one of racing’s greatest trials.

©Julien Delfosse/DPPI ROLEX TESTIMONEE JENSON BUTTON AHEAD OF THE 24 HOURS OF LE MANS IN 2024

Button’s journey from single-seaters to endurance racing is more than a career transition; it reflects his enduring passion for pushing the limits of performance, precision and resilience. Since making his endurance debut at the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA in 2024, where he finished a respectable fourth overall, Button has thrown himself into the sport’s unique demands. In June 2025, he set his sights on completing the mythical Triple Crown of Endurance Racing –  the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA, the Twelve Hours of Sebring, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“It’s a very exciting time for endurance racing,” Button shares. “There is no other motor sport like it right now. The competitive landscape has completely changed over the last few years, with so many new manufacturers and talented drivers entering the sport – making the podium even more rewarding if you can achieve it.”


(Related: A Race with Time)

©Rolex/Adam Warner ROLEX TESTIMONEE JENSON BUTTON RACING AT THE 24 HOURS OF LE MANS IN 2024

Button’s appreciation for the sport goes beyond results. For him, the beauty of endurance racing lies in its complexity: The mental and physical toll on drivers, the collaborative precision of multi-driver teams, and the continuous mechanical strain on the cars. “Endurance racing is exciting because it pushes the limits of what is possible,” he explains. “What fascinates me is the ability of a racing car to endure 24 hours of full throttle racing. You are pushing to the limit the entire time, with every component maximized for the duration of the race.”

This philosophy mirrors the values of Rolex, a brand synonymous with performance and legacy. Since 2001, Rolex has been the Official Timepiece and Exclusive Major Partner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, strengthening a connection to motorsport that dates back to Sir Malcolm Campbell’s land speed records in the 1930s. Button, who became a Rolex Testimonee in 2022, sees this alignment clearly: “Just like a racing car, a watch is all about precision and maintaining performance under continuous strain. Both endurance racing and Rolex timepieces embody a drive to push the boundaries of technology which is why Rolex’s partnership with the sport’s leading championship has such legitimacy.”


(Related: Sailing Towards Greatness)

©Rolex/Stephan Cooper AERIAL VIEW AT CIRCUIT DE LA SARTHE

Le Mans is more than a race; it is a crucible of determination, where night gives way to day, and fatigue becomes a test of focus. The journey to victory is rarely straightforward – it’s shaped by strategy, setbacks, and stamina. Button understands this well. Having conquered the peaks of Formula 1, he now seeks to etch his name into endurance racing history, not just by competing, but by embracing the relentless rhythm that defines Le Mans.

As Rolex celebrates human achievement by honouring not only victories, but the paths taken to reach them, Button’s journey exemplifies the spirit of the brand’s partnership with motor sport. It is a story not of nostalgia, but of evolution – of a champion rewriting his legacy one hour, one lap, one watchful second at a time.

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