They said "I do," nine months ago in Hawaii – a lavish but family-focused ceremony held following a five-year relationship.

But as they approach their one-year anniversary, Jenson Button has spoken candidly of his marriage, admitting that he and his model wife Jessica don't see each other very often.

In fact, the Formula One star travels the world's motor-racing circuits for much of the year. And when he does have down-time, he spends it at his residence in Monaco. 

Jessica Michibata, 30, on the other hand, resides some 10,000km away from the south of France – in Tokyo with her mum, in the same apartment she lived in prior to her marriage.

"Jessie still works a lot in Japan. She enjoys her job, she models, she had a television show and has just done a Japanese film,’ he explained.

"She enjoys working, which is great, but obviously it means that we don’t see each other very often. We’re definitely not settled in Monaco together."

The 35-year-old, worth €83.5m, furthermore admitted in conversation with Mail Online that he is a "not the same," while racing.

"I have to be selfish. I have to be focused," the Englishman said. 

"I am a very different person, and Jessie knows that, and she understands that, as do most of my friends and family. I can be a bit snappy over a race weekend."

And it seems Jenson is pretty set in his ways too: "I just need my apartment to be simple, easy, so I can come in, do my thing, and leave again, pack and repack and leave."

Mr Button, who currently drives for McLaren, continued: "You have to be so selfish when it comes to motorsport. The amount of hours you have to put into the training… you have to be selfish to succeed."

He and Jessica met in a hotel bar in Japan back in 2008 – though it took him a full eight months to persuade the lingerie model that his reputation as a womaniser and playboy was unfounded.

They separated for a while in 2011 – allegedly because she was becoming impatient with his lack of real commitment – but they quickly got back together.

Jenson popped the question on Valentine's Day last year, and they married within ten months.