Button Will Ask for Permission to Visit Japan

Jenson Button has reportedly asked permission from his McLaren team to make a charity visit to Japan in order to further raise donations for the people in the country following the disasters that have hit the Asian nation in recent weeks.

Button's links to Japan are not new to anyone, as his current girlfriend is Japanese bikini model Jessica Michibata (whose modeling takes place in Tokio). In addition to that, the 2009 world champion has been a long-time driver of Honda in the series, back when the Japanese carmaker was still involved in Formula 1 racing.

Shortly after the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis have hit Japan in recent weeks, Button and his girlfriend have started to raise funds for the country's anguished citizens. And despite the radiation risk he would be exposed to, he asked his team to let him visit Japan when the Great Circus moves to China next month.

“It (raising money) is going well but we are two people out of millions that are trying to do something,” Button was quoted as saying in a recent interview with the UK Express newspaper in Melbourne. “Hopefully, I will be in Japan after China if I am allowed to.”

Prior to the Australian Grand Prix last weekend, all the paddock and fans gathered to take one minute of silence for the victims of the Japanese disaster. Additionally, the cars of both Kamui Kobayashi and Sergio Perez (Sauber-Ferrari) raced with a message addressed to the people of Japan.