Renewed romance puts a spring in Button's step

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BEFORE THE BREAK: Jenson Button celebrates with girlfriend Jessica Michibata in the paddock after winning the the Australian F1 Grand Prix in Melbourne.

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Formula One champion Jenson Button was loved-up and revved-up for the Hungarian Grand Prix after rekindling his romance with lingerie model Jessica Michibata.

The two split in May but got back together this month and the McLaren driver said her return had made a world of difference.

"She arrived from Japan yesterday. She's only here for the weekend and then she has to go back for some work," he said  at the Hungaroring circuit.

"I'll see her again in August for our summer break which will be nice, but it's great having her back here. It really is.

"It just makes me happier. You have bad days and you have good days, but on the bad days she puts a smile on your face - and I don't mean in a weird way - I means she's just such a lovely person."

"But we're not going to have any bad days. We've agreed we're going to have a really good weekend this weekend," he added.

Button took his first Formula One win with Honda in Hungary in 2006 and the circuit holds fond memories for him. It should also suit his McLaren well, with the team winning the last three races there.

The Briton, second in the championship and 14 points behind team mate Lewis Hamilton with eight races remaining, will also have his father John in attendance as usual but his focus remained firmly on the racetrack.

"I'm very lucky with my family, my old man and Jessica. I don't have to worry about them over the weekend," he said. "They do their own thing, they're out of the way and they never bother me, which is quite nice."

"They know when to speak and when not to. I'm happy now."

- Reuters