Burglary at former F1 champion Jenson Button’s home

The Formula One ace and Jessica Michibata were on vacation in Saint-Tropez when intruders broke into the apartment where they were staying with friends and stole £300,000 worth of the couple’s belongings, including the model’s engagement ring, which cost £250,000. Jenson Button’s entourage has made this claim as the driver didn’t feel well the following day.

However, the deputy prosecutor of the city of Draguignan, Philippe Guemas, says as yet it is all speculation.

But all attention was on Button and his glamorous wife following counter claims by the French authorities who have poured doubt on their version of events in recent days.

A spokesman for Button earlier told the BBC the driver and his wife thought gas may have been used during the burglary at the villa on Monday night in the upmarket town of Ramatuelle, just off Saint-Tropez, which attracts celebrities in the summer.

Police have confirmed that they will analyse blood samples taken from Button and others who were present in the villa at the time of the break-in.

He said: “Jenson’s preparation for the next race in Spa will not be affected”.

“If there was a totally safe, odourless, potent, cheap anaesthetic agent available to thieves for this objective, it is likely the medical profession would know about it and be investigating its use in anaesthetic practice”, the spokeswoman said. Among the items stolen was Jessica Button’s engagement ring.

More pictures show the babe relaxing on a sunbed and the pair eating posh meals. A spokesman for Button did not comment last night.