Button Steams over Branson Hitting on His Girlfriend

The sponsorship deal between Richard Branson's Virgin Group and Brawn GP could have gone the wrong way in the very Saturday of the Australian Grand Prix. Shortly after clinching pole position – and leading Brawn's 1-2 in the qualifying session – Button went to celebrate his performance with the rest of the Brawn GP staff (Branson included) on Saturday night.

British tabloid News of the World reported that, during the aforementioned night out, Button became furious at the British investor, as he thought he was hitting on his girlfriend, Japanese-Argentinean bra model Jessica Michibata.

As reported by a NOTW-contacted source, it seems Branson had a little too much to drink that night and became extremely friendly to Michibata. This infuriated Button, who was on the verge of starting a scandal hadn't it been for the Brawn GP team chiefs present at the aforementioned dinner.

“Brawn GP team chiefs and Virgin execs watched in stunned silence as the pair flew at each other during a boozy dinner – just one day after their sponsorship deal was clinched. The whole thing got very, very heated,” said the report from NOTW.

“Richard thought Jenson was over-reacting, and gave as good back. Both of them were livid,” said the aforementioned source.

Virgin Group is yet to extend their sponsorship deal with Brawn GP, as their initial commitment with the Brackley-based team was only signed for the opening 2 rounds of the season.