Jenson Button and Jessica Michibata

London: McLaren Formula One driver Jenson Button entered the new year as a married man after tying the knot with long-term girlfriend Jessica Michibata in Hawaii.

“Happy New Year from Mr & Mrs Button,” the 2009 world champion told his 1.9 million followers on Twitter shortly after midnight. “We’re excited to see in the New Year with family and loved ones.”

British newspapers said they had married in Maui, Hawaii.

Button, 34, and Japanese-Argentine model Michibata have been together since 2008 and announced their engagement last year.

The Briton’s Formula One future was uncertain until last month, when McLaren finally announced his contract had been extended and he would be partnering arriving double world champion Fernando Alonso next season.

This year will be the 16th season in Formula One for the most experienced driver on the starting grid and winner of 15 Grands Prix.

A British daily reported that Michibata arrived at the venue of the wedding in a Pontiac Le Mans convertible.

“Looking flawless in a classy ivory gown, supermodel Jessica, 30, was driven to the venue in a classic Pontiac Le Mans convertible. Once there, she then joined up with Jenson, 34, who cut a handsome figure in his navy blue suit,” the report said.

Revealing details about the celebrity wedding, the report said: “Around 30 to 40 people watched on as the smitten bride and groom then sealed their nuptials with a loving kiss. Afterwards, the newlyweds — who have since jetted off on their honeymoon — then posed for pictures along with some of the guests.”

The report quoted a source as saying: “Jenson and Jessica had a day they will never forget — they couldn’t stop smiling or kissing. It was the perfect end to 2014 and now they will start 2015 as man and wife… They have had so many happy holidays in Maui so it was the perfect place for them to get married.”

“It was a fairly small wedding and afterwards Jenson and Jessica spent the night at the Grand Wailea resort in the Honeymoon suite,” the source was further quoted as saying.

Quite expectedly, the event is rumoured to have racked up a bill of around the six-figure mark.

Button hadn’t given a clue about his plans prior to the event. Jenson had suggested that he was going to Hawaii, but simply to spend Christmas with his fiancee.

But the wedding, in reality, was quite well-planned, as the report in the British daily revealed: “It was known that he had flown to his home in Monaco in November to choose wines for the event.”

In May, Button had said that he doesn’t know where and when the wedding will take place.

Jenson and Jessica got engaged in February, but their happy news came shortly after the sudden death of Jenson’s father, John, who died in January aged 70 in Monaco. (Agencies)