'I have permission from my wife because I am a better person when I race'

Sebastian Vettel was in the picture, Kimi Raikkonen was mentioned. But both former Formula 1 world champions declined an adventure with JOTA in the hypercar class of the World Endurance Championship (WEC). In the end, the team contracted a former F1 champion after all. Although that was not a done deal from the start either.

Jenson Button will make his return to a world championship next season with a Porsche hypercar from JOTA, an adventure the 2009 F1 champion is very much looking forward to. "I'm still at my best. I have a pass from the wife," the Briton told the BBC. "I'm a better person when I'm racing."

Formula 1 is considered the pinnacle of motorsport, with incredible aerodynamic designs and, according to Button, the best teams in the world. "But they are not as technologically advanced as hypercars. LMDH [hypercars] have 38 pages of just what the steering wheel does; there so many switches… so many different things for the same issue. There's lot to learn - it's a staggering amount of stuff and it blows your mind and takes a while to get used to," Button said.

Button is currently 43 years old, but before the new season starts - on 19 January - he will turn 44. He spent most of his active career in Formula 1. In 18 seasons, he drove a total of 306 Grands Prix. He then regularly performed as a guest driver in various classes, such as last season at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It is the first time since his F1 career that Button will run a full season in motorsport.