FROM F1 TO FAMILY MAN

Racing driver Jenson Button opens up about why it's time to retire from racing - to focus on working in interior design with his wife, Brittny, and being a great dad to their kids

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Jenson Button might be best known as a former world champion racing driver, but when HELLO! meets him in Malibu for this exclusive shoot, it's more a case of committed family man than Formula One star.

In July, the driver, who has been based in California for the past decade, announced his intention to step away from full-time racing to spend more time with his family. He competed in Formula One for 16 years before switching to other forms of motorsport in 2016.

"It's time," he says. "I've had a great career. I'm still healthy, and there are so many things I still want to do, but I feel I've got the balance wrong.

"I've been away too much; I've travelled too much. I've had to, for work, but that's why I'm retiring from racing, so we can have this new start with the kids and we can spend more time together as a family. The kids are growing. I feel like I'm missing a lot.

"I'm 45 already. It's flown by; it's been insane. But this point in my life is going to be the best part of my life. And I'm very, very excited."

HAPPILY EVER AFTER

Frome-born Jenson radiates happiness as he is joined by his wife of three years, Brittny, 35, and their two children, Hendrix, six, and Lenny, four.

With their nanny on a break, the couple take turns to juggle the children, negotiating gently with bites of strawberry cake and a promised dip in the pool after they've posed for pictures.

But it wasn't always this effortless, Jenson admits. "The first six months [after having their eldest] weren't easy for me. I loved Hendrix to bits – I didn’t want to put him down – but there are so many days that go by, and it’s just monotonous and it’s tough.