Button may have been gassed in St Tropez burglary

McLaren Formula One driver Jenson Button of Britain (R) and Lotus Formula One driver Romain Grosjean of France arrive for the drivers parade before the Hungarian F1 Grand Prix at the Hungaroring circuit, near Budapest, Hungary – REUTERS

Reuters: Jenson Button may have been gassed during a burglary at a rented villa in St Tropez, a spokesman for the former Formula One world champion was quoted as saying by British media.

Button and wife Jessica were staying with friends in France when two men broke in and stole jewellery including Jessica’s engagement ring, according to a report on the BBC.

The Sun newspaper reported that valuables worth 300,000 pounds were stolen.

“Two men broke into the property whilst they all slept and stole a number of items of jewellery including, most upsettingly, Jessica’s engagement ring,” the racing driver’s spokesman told the BBC.

“The police have indicated that this has become a growing problem in the region with perpetrators going so far as to gas their proposed victims through the air conditioning units before breaking in.”

Button, the 2009 world champion, has endured a nightmare year in Formula One.

His McLaren team have had their worst ever start to a season and scored just four points in eight races with a car that is way off the pace in the first year of their new partnership with Honda.