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The first official pre-season test begins today, and 2009 Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button has revealed the driver he’ll be rooting for once the racing begins in Melbourne.
Despite the lack of meaningful running we have seen from this year’s crop of Formula 1 cars, George Russell has emerged as the early favourite to take all the glory.
However, there’s still a plethora of talent on the grid, and the likes of Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and even Russell’s Mercedes counterpart, Kimi Antonelli, are unlikely to go down without a fight.
With 2026 being the start of a brand new era for the sport, the pecking order of the grid may shift with teams bringing upgrades throughout the season.
With that being said, Jenson Button has admitted that he will be rooting for one of his former F1 teammates who has struggled as of late.
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Jenson Button admits that he will be rooting for Lewis Hamilton after ‘tough’ debut year with Ferrari
During an appearance on Sky Sports News yesterday, Button was asked if it is possible for Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari to be contenders for the F1 crown this season following a disappointing maiden campaign in red last season.
The 15-time Grand Prix winner replied, “It was tough, I have to say, watching Lewis in 2025. You know, we were teammates for three years. I understand how good he is.
“So it was really tough to see him struggle with the team, and you could see in his face how much it was hurting.
“You kind of forget everything else he’s achieved at that moment in time because you just see the pain.”
However, Button pinpointed the new regulations as the perfect time for the seven-time world champion to reset, echoing a similar sentiment to F1 legend Nigel Mansell’s recent comments on Hamilton.
He said, “I think with the new regulation changes, we will see Lewis Hamilton back to his best.
“I really do because he’s going to have input in how the car is designed and have confidence in him taking it in a direction that works for him.
“So I hope to see that. We want to see Ferrari at the front, and we all want to see Lewis fighting at the front again.
“I’ll tell you after the first race whether it’s possible or not. But with the way the reg changes are, anything is possible.
“I really do hope that we see Ferrari at the front. You know, they’re such a big part of Formula 1. It would be great to see them fighting for wins again.”
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Jenson Button predicts whether Lewis Hamilton could retire at the end of 2026
Button was also asked about the future of his former McLaren teammate and his opinion on whether the 41-year-old will call it quits on his F1 career at the conclusion of the 2026 term.
It was previously reported that Hamilton was ‘hurt’ by his former rivals suggesting that he should retire following the difficult campaign he endured last season, but Button has looked at the more human side of the Briton’s decision.
He answered, “With Lewis, it’s possible. I mean, he’s still young, he’s 40 years old. I class that as young. I’m 46 now, and Fernando’s still racing.
“But yeah, I think it’s important for us to understand as sportsmen that there’s a life outside of sport, and it’s fun, you know. And I think, as long as he has something that he wants to achieve in life outside of F1, he should jump.
“If he feels that it isn’t right anymore for him, go and do something else, because he has the skill set, and obviously, the way that he works with a group of people is very positive.
“So I think he could go and do something else and be very productive and very successful in it.”
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