THE SingTel Singapore Grand Prix is still two days away, but Jenson Button is already a winner.
Sorry ladies, Button's girlfriend is here
WHEN asked about Singapore women, the Brawn GP driver was quick on the draw. He promptly pointed at lingerie model Jessica Michibata (above) and said: "My girlfriend's there."
The Brawn GP driver, the current Formula One championship leader, lapped Lewis Hamilton in the popularity stakes on Thursday, with a show of humour, dash and charisma that put his fellow Briton in the shade at a joint press conference.
Never mind that Hamilton is the reigning champion whose crown has slipped - Button was the cooler customer despite the crushing weight of expectations on his shoulders ahead of Sunday's race.
'I'm headed to the beach a bit later,' said the grinning 29-year-old, who showed up in bermudas and flip-flops at a Bridgestone event on Thursday.
Button, who goes into the night race with a 14-point lead over teammate Rubens Barrichello, showed little signs of stress. In fact, his jokes flew thick and fast, especially in the direction of Hamilton, the McLaren star who had eclipsed him last season.
This year, their roles have reversed. Hamilton has slipped to seventh in the drivers' standings, after a poor season which saw him crash out in the final lap at Monza two weeks ago. When told that the 24-year-old was en route to join him on stage, Button quipped: 'I hope he doesn't crash into a wall on the way.'
Button, who is into his 10th season in F1, insists that there are no hard feelings between him and Hamilton, the young upstart who won the World Championship in only his second season last year.
'We're all doing a sport where we're all very, very competitive,' he said. 'We have mutual respect, I would say, and what Lewis has achieved in a pretty short time in Formula One is exceptional.'
Turning to his rival, he added cheekily: 'I've got a bit of respect for you, I would say.'
Hamilton, who is out of this year's title race, was generous enough to return the compliment. He said of Button: 'He's got even more experience than me. He's had many a time when he's leading the championship and being at the front defending, and there's no real advice I can give him.'
Read the full story in Friday's edition of The Straits Times
