Button recently sat down with Gear Patrol during Monterey Car Week at The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering. He attended as a newly minted Rolex testimonee, an exclusive title for the brand’s selected ambassadors, a role Button took on in 2025. Alongside his new role, he also revealed his $2 million Lotus Evija electric hypercar for the first time.
Button draws parallels between Rolex and the world of Formula 1, noting that both share a focus on precision and luxury. “Rolex is a luxury brand, and Formula 1 is kind of a luxury brand too, so it works well,” Button explains. He compares replica watches to race cars in terms of packing intricate machinery into a precise, efficient form. “When you’re limited in what you can do with a package, it’s all about attention to detail.”
While Button enjoys the power of his 2,011-horsepower Lotus, he often prefers the simplicity of his classic cars. One of his favorites is his fully restored Jaguar E-Type Series 1.5 convertible. “That’s my go-to for a relaxing drive in the canyons. You don’t need to go fast. Even at 35 miles an hour, it feels amazing – the tires squealing, the sound of the engine,” he says.
His collection includes other notable classics, like an aluminum-bodied Jaguar XK 120 that once raced at Le Mans under Sir Stirling Moss, and a Jaguar C-Type driven by Juan Manuel Fangio. “I have a lot of Jags right now, for some reason,” Button laughs.
Button’s love for classic cars stems from their simplicity and his ability to tinker with them. In contrast, modern supercars, he feels, are becoming too powerful for everyday roads. “You can’t push them to the limit safely; they’re just too dangerous.”
Button admits he also owns a Tesla. “It’s the quickest car I’ve ever had from A to B. It’s $50,000… and I hate to like it,” he confesses, criticizing the build quality but praising its performance. “It’s quicker than most of the cars I have. It’s faster than most cars here, zero to 60 in no time.”
However, for Button, it’s no longer about speed. “Now, I buy cars for the experience, not just because they’re the quickest.”
Despite his love for classic cars on the street, when it comes to racing, Button is all about competition. Earlier this year, he participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, driving a NASCAR Chevy Camaro ZL1, which he enthusiastically describes as “a weapon.” Button has also competed in three NASCAR Cup races this year and is set to participate in the IMSA SportsCar Championship’s Petit Le Mans race in October, where he’ll be piloting a Porsche 963 prototype racer. He’ll also be racing at the Goodwood Revival in September in his beloved Jaguar C-Type.
“I have to race,” Button declares. “I’m a better person when I’m competing.”
One form of racing that doesn’t quite capture Button’s excitement is Formula E. “I think Formula E has its place, especially since it’s easy to attend with its urban circuits. But for me, racing needs noise. That’s a big part of it,” he says.
Button is more hopeful about alternative fuels. “I hope biofuels are the future of motorsports,” he says, referring to synthetic fuels being developed by companies like Porsche. “We have all these engineers working on different technologies – EVs, hydrogen, biofuels – and I think, in the end, we’ll figure out what’s best.”