Jenson Button is preparing for an unexpected return to the spotlight, with the 2009 Formula 1 world champion set to appear as a guest star in the new season of The Grand Tour. The former F1 driver has filmed a special segment in California alongside the programme’s new presenting trio, Thomas Holland, James Engelsman and Francis Bourgeois, ahead of the series arriving on Amazon Prime Video from 4 September.
Jenson Button officially retired from professional racing last November after a career filled with success and memorable moments. His appearance on The Grand Tour, revealed by Digital Spy, represents another way for the British champion to remain closely connected to the automotive world after stepping away from full-time competition.
Jenson Button gets behind the wheel for The Grand Tour
During filming at a circuit in California, Jenson Button personally took the wheel of several particularly striking cars, creating a series of dynamic sequences intended to feature at the beginning of the first episode. The new season will consist of six episodes and marks a significant change for one of Prime Video’s best-known motoring programmes.
The appearance is an interesting media comeback for Jenson Button, who has continued to maintain strong links with Formula 1 and the wider automotive world since retiring. He has also remained involved in discussions surrounding the current championship, including his assessment of Lewis Hamilton’s prospects under the 2026 Formula 1 regulations.
Jenson Button’s past criticism of The Grand Tour
There is also an ironic element to his new role. Jenson Button’s invitation comes almost 10 years after an interview in which he expressed reservations about The Grand Tour, making his decision to participate now particularly noteworthy.
In 2016, Jenson Button said he had watched the new version of the programme while sitting in the bath and described it as the kind of show that suited such a relaxed setting. He added that he had already seen similar material before, with the same types of cars appearing across many motoring programmes.
Although Jenson Button described the show as entertaining, he also felt that something was missing for viewers genuinely interested in racing. From a driver’s perspective, he said he was irritated by the heavy emphasis such programmes placed on sliding cars and creating tyre smoke.
“I know everyone likes it, but personally I just think: poor car. I love cars and they destroy them.”
Those comments take on a rather different meaning today, given that Jenson Button has now agreed to get behind the wheel himself for The Grand Tour. His involvement perhaps reflects how his relationship with this type of motoring entertainment has evolved since those remarks were made.
The Grand Tour begins a new era
The Grand Tour originally debuted in November 2016 with Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond. The three no longer lead the series, but they are expected to return in some capacity, providing a symbolic link between the programme’s past and its new era.
Co-creator Andy Wilman has explained that three new faces are arriving with the new version of The Grand Tour and that the original group is fully supporting them, underlining the importance of managing the transition carefully.
“We’re really supporting them. Our guys are appearing in the episodes doing cameos, so we wish them all the best because we want to pass the baton.”
The new presenting line-up features Thomas Holland and James Engelsman, known for their work with Throttle House, alongside Francis Bourgeois. The six-episode season therefore represents a substantial renewal of the programme while attempting to retain the character and enthusiasm that helped establish its original identity.
Following a private preview in London, the new season is shaping up as a major transition for The Grand Tour, combining the spirit of the original format with new personalities and high-profile guests from the racing world. Jenson Button’s involvement is one of the most notable examples, bringing a Formula 1 world champion into the programme at the start of its next chapter.
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