Button joins Sky Sports F1 for 2019

2009 Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button will become a permanent member of Sky Sports F1’s pundit team for 2019.

Button, who recently clinched the Super GT championship title in Japan, currently competes in the World Endurance Championship and will dovetail his 2019 commitments with a Sky Sports F1 role.

The British driver, who last competed in F1 as Fernando Alonso’s stand-in at McLaren for the 2017 Monaco Grand Prix, will join fellow ex-F1 drivers Martin Brundle, Damon Hill, Paul Di Resta, Anthony Davidson, Johnny Herbert and Nico Rosberg as part of its pundit team.

“I’m incredibly excited to join up with the Sky Sports team again,” Butt said. “Working with them at Silverstone this year gave me a taste of television broadcasting, one that I thoroughly enjoyed and look forward to again in 2019.”

“Jenson’s arrival is fantastic news for our customers and for motorsport fans,” Scott Young, Head of F1 at Sky Sports, said. “We have a world-class presenting team and we now add the unique insights from another World Champion. This will elevate our coverage of Formula 1 in what is our first year of exclusivity in the UK.”

Sky Sports F1 becomes the sole live broadcaster in the UK from 2019 with the sport ending its existing deal with terrestrial network Channel 4.

The British Grand Prix will become the only F1 race shown free-to-air next season while all 21 races shown live on the channel.