Jenson Button’s astonishing victory in the Monaco Grand Prix was followed by a debrief with Ross Brawn, his team principal, before a quick dash back to his Monte Carlo apartment for a wash and brush-up to get to the Royal Ball, held every year in honour of the winner of the Principality’s big race.
Slightly more excited, though, was Jessica Michibata, Button’s stunning new girlfriend. Tiny and quite beautiful, Jessica is a proper girl, so much so that even though she had no idea there was a big bash with Prince Albert on offer if her boyfriend won the most glittering grand prix of his career, she was still fully prepared with a posh frock to hand.
Meanwhile, John Button, Jenson’s long-suffering dad, led the domestic celebrations alongside Samantha, Jenson’s sister, and Simone, Jenson’s mum, who were all over for the race. Poor John has suffered some terrible times watching his son struggle through Formula One and winning yesterday was still torture. He told me he had never been so nervous and could barely watch each lap. Needn’t have worried. Turns out his boy is something of a genius at the wheel, as his victory on Sunday showed.
Here’s a funny thing, though. The champagne was flowing elsewhere in Monaco in celebration of successful British drivers. This must be a first, surely: Button won his Formula One race from pole position, the first British driver to do that since Sir Jackie Stewart as long ago as 1973. But in the Formula Renault series race in Monaco last weekend, Oliver Turvey, a 22-year-old from Penrith in Cumbria, won his race from pole position, and in the Porsche Supercup, Richard Westbrook, 33, also won from pole. Three British drivers, all winning from pole position in Monaco on the same weekend. Spooky.
| 
|