Button ‘a little bit jealous’ of Alonso and Stroll as he explains how he would ‘love’ to drive 2026 cars

Jenson Button has shared how he would “love” to drive F1’s latest generation of cars – the new Aston Martin ambassador admitting he is also “a little bit jealous” of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll getting to work with design legend Adrian Newey.

Button, who joined the Aston Martin camp earlier this year, last raced in F1 almost a decade ago, when he appeared as a substitute for Alonso (contesting the Indianapolis 500) at the 2017 Monaco Grand Prix.

Before that, the Briton racked up eight pole positions, 15 Grand Prix wins and 50 podium finishes, as well as the World Championship title – achieved with Brawn GP during the 2009 season.

Still involved in the sport as a pundit and commentator, and through his ambassadorial duties, Button has kept a watchful eye on the sport’s evolution, with the 2026 rules reset piquing his interest.

In a journal entry for the official Aston Martin website, Button noted: “Nothing really compares to the feeling of driving an F1 car: the power, the braking, the way the car moves underneath you when you’re right on the limit. It never gets old. These cars are out-of-this-world fast.

“But the way these cars work is evolving. The power units now behave quite differently to what drivers have been used to. In the past, you’d exit a corner and know exactly how much power you had. Now, it depends on things like brake pressure in the previous corner and how the hybrid system deploys energy.

“It means drivers need to think on their feet more than ever. Those who can do this well are going to stand out for the right reasons – and those who can’t are going to stand out for the wrong ones.

“I’d love to drive one of these new-generation cars, especially one designed by Adrian Newey. I’ve raced against a lot of his cars over the years and always wondered what it would be like to work with him. I guess you could say I’m a little bit jealous of Lance and Fernando in this respect.”

In a wide-ranging entry, Button also took a moment to detail why he joined Aston Martin – having previously served as a Williams ambassador until last season.

“When you grow up around cars and motorsport, there are certain names that always mean something, and Aston Martin is one of them,” he said. “I’ve loved the cars for as long as I can remember.

“I was born in the 1980s, but you look back at the DB4 and DB5 in the 1960s, how beautiful they were and how that’s continued right through to today – that combination of performance and style in a way that feels timeless.

“Aston Martin has always had a special place in my heart. And I think that’s true for almost anyone. But what really excites me about working with Aston Martin Aramco is the people. There are a lot of talented people here and a real belief about where this team is heading.

“Sure, the start to the season hasn’t been easy, but that’s Formula 1 – it’s so competitive. In this sport, meaningful progress is always built over time.”