“Mr. Button, you are a busy man. What projects are you currently working on?”
“I never thought my life would be so hectic after Formula 1, but I’m busier than I used to be: I’m a presenter at Formula 1 and a brand ambassador for the Williams team, as well as a brand ambassador for the Hackett fashion brand. And I have my own brand of car. This is a vehicle manufactory called Radford with which we do classic coach building. This means that we build tailor-made vehicles according to customer requirements on the basis of a series chassis. I also founded my own whisky brand called Coachbuilt. As you can see, I’m pretty busy. It’s also the case that I also have a private life with my wonderful wife and two children.”
“Are you catching up on something you didn’t have time for before?”
“Yes, before that, Formula 1 was my life’s purpose. Of course, you don’t have to feel sorry for a racing driver in Formula 1, it’s one of the best jobs there is – but it eats you up. You forget the world out there at some point, it’s all about racing. You have a manager, a PR assistant, a personal assistant, the bills are paid, your flights are booked – and what you eat is determined by your physiotherapist. In this small world, you never grow up and leave it at the exact age you entered it. When I finished my Formula 1 career, I learned how to pay bills. I know how stupid that sounds.”
“You used to race for the World Championship, what drives you today?”
“I love new challenges, there have been quite a few of them in the past, but the effort has always been worth it. The people I work with now – whether it’s at Radford or Coachbuilt Whisky – tick like me. These are all people who are passionate about what they do.”
“Doesn’t sound like you miss motorsport.”
“You know, I’ve raced so many times and I still do. The reason why I ended my Formula 1 career was because I wanted to try other things and race in other series. I’m not just a Formula 1 driver, I’m just a racing driver. During my years in Japan, for example, I won the Super GT Championship, I raced at Le Mans – which didn’t go so well, but it was very instructive – and I just signed for a season in Nitro Rallycross. Ten races around the world, electric cars with 1,000 hp and all-wheel drive, lots of jumps and all on loose ground. In other words, the complete opposite of Formula 1.”
“How do you experience Formula 1 at the moment?”
“From a sporting point of view, last season was one of the most attractive ever. Everyone thought it would be some kind of in-between year with the new rules, but they immediately had a positive effect on racing. The races are closer, the cars can follow each other more easily. Overtaking without DRS remains difficult, but if one driver makes a mistake, the other is now more likely to overtake. The cars look better, you also get more of the personality of the drivers because you see them outside the cars as well. It was different when I was in Formula 1. We were kids riding for big teams and sponsors, and we had to be extremely careful about how we behaved in front of the camera. Now it’s much more relaxed. It’s nice to have two teams fighting for victory at the front. Hopefully, Mercedes will be added at some point. Formula 1 is expanding right now, especially here in the US. Above all, however, the racing has to be good – and that’s what it is.”
“What do you think of the expansion of the racing series? Which is criticized in view of the full calendar.”
“You know, I really love the sport, but I wouldn’t want to race in Formula 1 anymore. 22 or 23 races a year is just insane because it’s so tough, not only physically but also mentally. You have to find the right attitude before every race. You pay a price for that, and I noticed that at some point, if I’m honest.”
“What was it like to get out then?”
“The first few years were difficult. Racing in Japan was fun, and I had my girlfriend and later wife, but I didn’t know where I would end up professionally. But when it started with Radford Motors, I thought: Wow, I can really get involved here, I can develop something that I enjoy.”
“What other role do you have at Radford Motors? Are you a test driver?”
“In fact, I test, yes. I am developing the vehicle based on the Lotus Evora in such a way that customers will be able to drive it themselves and, above all, enjoy it themselves.”
“With your long-standing connections to car manufacturers, you could certainly have designed your own special model there as well. Why did you decide to go your own way with Radford?”
“Because I want to do something special with the cars. Sure, you can go to a manufacturer and have your super sports car painted in a special color for an insane amount of money. It’s a bit different with us: You want the air intakes on the side to be shaped differently? No problem. You don’t like the front, you need different lights or different rear wings? Not an issue either. That’s what coach building is all about.”
“How does that work in practice?”
“It’s a question of time and money, even when it comes to the interior. If someone wants a single-seater, we’ll set it up. Even a large V8 engine is no obstacle. That’s why I find coachbuilding exciting, and it’s also the reason why it went so well in the 1940s to 1960s: you ordered a chassis from Rolls-Royce or Bentley and you could have a custom car built by Mulliner, Radford or Cooper.”
“What does luxury mean to you?”
“It’s not an easy question, it’s a broad field. For me, however, luxury means as much as individuality, i.e. having something that others don’t have.”
“Let’s talk about fashion: Hackett and Jenson Button, how do they fit together?”
“You know, I’m British – and I like the idea of being a gentleman. Or at least to think that I am one! (laughs) I love to dress well, wear a nice suit and be smart. I believe that a good suit gives a man confidence – and an ill-fitting suit can hurt his confidence.”
“You can certainly tell us what makes up the classic British style.”
“It’s the small but fine details. Something like cufflinks – or shoes. In my opinion, an outfit stands or falls with the shoes.”
“But you probably don’t wear a suit all the time.”
“No, I fly a lot and I need comfortable clothes like tracksuits, and Hackett has a collection for that as well. The stuff is incredibly comfortable. What’s more, I have to change all the time. Do you have children? If you have any, you know that chocolate or milk or whatever ends up on your clothes every hour. For some reason, my kids like to eat up half the garden and… Well, as I said, I change my clothes all the time.”
Source: https://ramp.space/post/jenson-button-living-in-the-fastlaneGO SIXT
