Former Formula 1 champion and British driver Jenson Button arrives in Melbourne for next week's Grand Prix with girlfriend & Playboy model Brittny Ward
Playboy model Brittny Ward and Jenson Button
Melbourne: After confirming his relationship with Playboy model Brittny Ward last week, former Formula One champion Jenson Button yesterday arrived in Melbourne with his new girlfriend in tow.
Playboy model Brittny Ward and Jenson Button. Pics/AFP
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Button (35) split from his Japanese model wife Jessica Michibata (31) in December last year.
The McLaren racer had proposed to Michibata on Valentine's Day in 2014 with a ring worth around £250,000. The couple tied the knot in Hawai in late 2014 after having known each other since 2008, though they did split up briefly in 2011.
At the time of the split, Button's spokesperson had said that the couple "decided to go their separate ways in a very amicable manner. There is no one else involved."
However, less than three months later, Button is with Ward, 10 years his junior, while Michibata was pictured enjoying what seemed to be a ate with American singer John Mayer earlier this month.
Ex-factor: Jessica Michibata
Button and Michibata's marriage is said to have failed due to its long-distance nature. While Button resides in Monaco, Michibata lives with her mother in Tokyo, Japan.
Meanwhile, Button and Ward have made no fuss about being spotted and even photographed often recently. Ward, who began modelling at the age of 12, is currently one of Playboy's hottest girls. She was crowned Miss January 2015 by the top American magazine.
The pretty lady is said to be quite a big Formula One fan too, and is learnt to have drawn up a schedule to travel with the British racer for the season's first few races.