Formula One has been home to some of the greatest drivers of all time, who have carved their names into the history of the sport. However, not all of these drivers remain in the sport after retiring from racing. Some have gone on to pursue other interests, while others have remained in the F1 paddock in different capacities. In this blog post, we will take a look at ten popular ex-F1 drivers and explore what they are doing now. From business ventures to media roles, coaching, and more, we will uncover the exciting endeavors of these former F1 stars. Join us as we take a trip down memory lane and discover what some of our favorite F1 drivers are up to these days.
Number 1. Nico Rosberg (Last seen on Track – Abu Dhabi 2016)
It is every Formula 1 driver’s dream to retire as a World Champion, and that’s exactly what Nico Rosberg did. The German shocked the paddock when he announced his retirement after winning the 2016 title, in a fierce battle with Lewis Hamilton. Since then, Rosberg has ventured into entrepreneurship, broadcasting, and creating his own YouTube channel. The mental toll of winning the World Championship led him to walk away from driving. He and Hamilton still compete with each other, as team owners in the sustainable off-road Extreme E series. Rosberg founded the Rosberg X Racing team, which won the inaugural Extreme E title in 2021.
Rosberg has become a regular on Formula 1 TV coverage, holding strong opinions on the happenings in the paddock. He also regularly uploads vlogs on YouTube and advocates for sustainability in multiple business ventures.
Number 2. Jenson Button (Last seen on Track – Monaco 2017)
Jenson Button, the former World Champion of 2009, retired from Formula One in 2016. However, Button found himself back in the cockpit of a McLaren car in 2017, as a substitute for Fernando Alonso, who decided to participate in the Indy 500. Button’s appearance in that race would prove to be his 306th and final start in F1, where he managed to bag 15 race victories throughout his career.
Earlier this year, Button expressed his desire to be known not just as a former F1 driver but also a professional racer. After retiring from the top-flight racing class, Button has taken part in numerous racing series. He participated in the Japanese Super GT series, founded his own team JBXE in Extreme E, participated in Le Mans, Nitro Rallycross, British GT, DTM, and recently made his debut in the American stock car series, NASCAR, at Circuit of The Americas in 2023.
The 43-year-old is set to return to Le Mans in June with a NASCAR twist, as he forms part of an all-star Garage 56 line-up with NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson and ex-Le Mans winner Mike Rockenfeller. They will be driving a tuned version of the NASCAR Next Gen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.
Number 3. Felipe Massa (Last seen on Track – Abu Dhabi 2017)
