Jenson Button joins Aston Martin as team ambassador for 2026

2009 Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button will join Aston Martin Aramco as a team ambassador starting with the 2026 season, marking a significant off-track signing for the ambitious Silverstone-based squad. The move strategically aligns the former Honda works driver with the team's new factory partnership with the Japanese manufacturer, set to begin under the landmark 2026 technical regulations.

Why it matters:

Button's appointment is a major statement of intent from Aston Martin as it prepares for its pivotal works partnership with Honda. Bringing in a world champion with deep, successful experience with Honda—including his 2009 title-winning campaign—provides the team with invaluable institutional knowledge and a credible ambassador as it seeks to establish itself as a consistent front-runner. This move signals the team is leveraging every possible advantage for the new regulatory era.

The details:

• The ambassador role will see Button formally represent the Aston Martin Aramco Formula 1 Team from the start of the 2026 season.
• In his statement, Button highlighted Honda's new works partnership with Aston Martin as a "huge draw," noting his eagerness to apply his years of experience with the Japanese manufacturer to his new role.
• The 2026 season represents a complete reset for the sport, introducing new power unit and chassis regulations. Aston Martin will enter this era as a full Honda works team, ending the manufacturer's current association with Red Bull.
• Button's history with Honda is extensive, spanning his championship year at Brawn GP (which used a Honda-derived engine) and subsequent seasons driving for the Honda works team earlier in his career.

What's next:

Button's integration into the team will be a storyline to watch as 2026 approaches. His firsthand experience with Honda's corporate and engineering culture could prove a valuable asset in smoothing the transition to the new partnership. While his role is ambassadorial, his technical feedback and promotional weight will bolster Aston Martin's campaign to become a championship contender. All eyes will now be on the team's progress leading up to the new era, with Button's arrival adding another layer of intrigue to the pre-2026 narrative.