Jenson Button says his Aston Martin move driven by passion for the marque and belief in Newey era

Writing in the first edition of Jenson’s Journal on the team's official website, Button reflected on the team’s difficult start to the season but made clear he sees long-term potential at Silverstone as Aston Martin prepares for Formula 1’s new regulatory cycle with Adrian Newey now central to the project and Honda also part of the future.

Button wrote: “I keep getting asked the same question. Why Aston Martin? Honestly, it’s pretty simple. When you grow up around cars and motorsport, there are certain names that always mean something. And Aston Martin is one of them. I've loved the cars for as long as I can remember.”

For Button, the connection goes far beyond modern Formula 1. He pointed to the marque’s design heritage as part of the attraction, recalling the DB4 and DB5 as symbols of what Aston Martin has represented for decades.

He wrote: “I was born in the 1980s, but you look back at the DB4 and DB5 in the 1960s, how beautiful they were and how that's continued right through to today – that combination of performance and style in a way that feels timeless.”

Button added: “Aston Martin has always had a special place in my heart. And I think that's true for almost anyone.”

Beyond the brand itself, Button said the real draw is the atmosphere inside the team and the conviction among those working there that stronger days are ahead: “But what really excites me about working with Aston Martin Aramco is the people. There are a lot of talented people here and a real belief about where this team is heading.”

While Aston Martin has not enjoyed an easy opening to the campaign, Button framed that as part of the wider reality of competing at the top level of the sport, where progress is rarely instant and always hard earned.

Button conceded: “Sure, the start to the season hasn't been easy, but that's Formula 1. It's so competitive. In this sport, meaningful progress is always built over time.”

That challenge is made even sharper by the arrival of a new technical era. Button noted that, while the core thrill of driving a Formula 1 car remains unchanged, the demands placed on drivers are evolving quickly with the latest generation of machinery: “This year is particularly interesting because we're stepping into another new technical era.

"But some things never change: Formula 1 is still the pinnacle of motorsport. Nothing really compares to the feeling of driving an F1 car: the power, the braking, the way the car moves underneath you when you're right on the limit. It never gets old. These cars are out of this world fast," insisted Button.

He also offered insight into how the latest power unit behaviour is changing the way drivers must think behind the wheel: “The power units now behave quite differently to what drivers have been used to. In the past, you'd exit a corner and know exactly how much power you had. Now, it depends on things like brake pressure in the previous corner and how the hybrid system deploys energy.”

His verdict was blunt: “It means drivers need to think on their feet more than ever. Those who can do this well are going to stand out for the right reasons and those who can't are going to stand out for the wrong ones.”

Button admitted one major source of envy inside Aston Martin is the chance Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll now have to race a car shaped by Newey’s thinking: “I'd love to drive one of these new generation cars, especially one designed by Adrian Newey. I’ve raced against a lot of his cars over the years and always wondered what it would be like to work with him. I guess you could say I'm a little bit jealous of Lance and Fernando in this respect.”

Button described Newey in familiar terms, as a designer whose methods remain rooted in an older school of engineering craft.

He wrote: “Seeing Adrian operate up close is fascinating. He's very old school. Notebook in hand, sketching ideas on a drawing board, but that's part of what makes him such a master. He really is.”

With a smile, Button added: “And yes, I may have tried to sneak a peek at his notebook. He noticed.”

The former Brawn and McLaren driver also revisited his years as Alonso’s team mate, describing the Spaniard as one of the toughest and most enjoyable benchmarks of his career.

Button wrote: “I raced alongside him for a couple of years, and although they weren't the easiest years in the sport for both of us, the one thing I had, the one true benchmark, if you like, was Fernando as my team mate.

"Trying to go out there and beat someone like Fernando in equal machinery was a real challenge and I loved that challenge. Seeing his work ethic, but also how he had fun out of the car, he's a really good character. 10 years later, none of that has changed about Fernando.”

Button even revealed a lighter connection between the two, writing: “And now we share something quieter: Japanese-inspired tattoos! He has a samurai on his back. I have a dragon with Japanese calligraphy running through it. A small connection, but one that makes me smile.”

Japan remains one of the defining threads of Button’s career, largely because of his long relationship with Honda, which began in 2003 and delivered some of the most important moments of his time in Formula 1.

Button recalled: “Japan has been a big part of my career, mainly through my relationship with Honda, which is full of so many highs and memories that I will never forget. I started working with them back in 2003, and we have shared some amazing moments together, including my first Grand Prix win in 2006, their first F1 win since the 60s as a manufacturer.”

He also pointed to later links with Honda power and Japanese racing, adding: “I raced with Honda power units in 2015 and '16, and later in my career, I worked with them again, racing in Japan in Super GT and at Daytona with Acura.”

Button’s admiration for Honda’s racing culture remains obvious: “You won't find people more passionate about racing, and they will be doing everything they can right now to improve the competitiveness of the power unit for the AMR26.”

The closing section of his journal made equally clear how much Japan itself still means to him. Button described Tokyo as one of his favourite cities anywhere in the world and praised the country’s food, countryside and culture.

Reserving special praise for Japanese Formula 1 fans: “Japanese fans are some of the most knowledgeable in motorsport. It's the minute details they understand.”

And in a memory that still stays with him, Button recalled his 2011 Suzuka victory: “By the time I'd celebrated and done all my debriefs after the race, it was dark, but the grandstands were still full of fans watching a replay of the race on the big screens around the circuit.

"Five hours later and they were still there. That tells you everything about their passion for the sport," recalled the 46-year-old Englishman.

For Button, Aston Martin is not simply a new role. It is a project tied to old passions, trusted people and a future he clearly believes is worth backing.