Button Wins First Grand Prix

It took a long time, but Jensen Button finally achieved his first Grand Prix win after more than a hundred starts, with a win in his Honda at the Hungaroring in Hungary.

And it was cause for double celebration in the Honda camp as it was their first win as a constructor since 1967.

Button had to contend with heavy rain followed by a fast drying track, but outmanouvered his fellow drivers and won with a comfortable margin of over 30 seconds.

Praising his team after the race, Button commented 'We have thought hard and we have won the race not just through speed but through strategy,' adding that the team had got the strategy for the Grand Prix spot on.

Button's win came as a huge personal relief. When he graduated to Formula One he was expected to be Britain's new star, following in the tradition of previous world champions such as Nigel Mansell. But as time and the number of races without a victory grew, frustration as well as disappointment seemed set to be the main talking points of his career.

With the first psychologically important win now behind him British race fans are hoping that the win in Hungary will be the catalyst for more victories and podium finishes.

But history is against Button winning the World Championship, as the record for becoming World Champion is under a hundred starts before a first win.

With much of the season now over all eyes are on the 2007 World Championship, when consistency in performances from both team and driver could see Honda and Button challenging for the constructor and driver titles.

Monaco Grand Prix

Included in the 2007 season is Button's home Grand Prix of Monaco, where he failed to impress this year.
It was left to fellow Brit and Monaco resident David Coulthard to fly the flag for Britain with a podium finish.

Both Coulthard and Button call Monaco home, with Coulthard a part owner of the Columbus Hotel in the principality.

As well as the Monaco Grand Prix, the principality is Europe's best known tax haven, with residents enjoying a zero rated income tax.

With property prices among the highest in the world, residents of Monaco normally need to spend six months a year there to maintain residency.

An announcement has been made recently that a new island is to be built off Monte Carlo, and this will provide more land and property in the world's second smallest country.

Bidders for the development have been asked to take the environment into account - and also the Monaco Grand Prix. Which suggests a possible new route for the race.

Despite being one of the world's most glamourous sporting events the Monaco Grand Prix is notorious for a lack of overtaking opportunities, and the new space might in time address the historical criticism of the race.

Property prices in Monaco are high due to the lack of land - in the past one of the districts, Fontvieille, had much of its area reclaimed from the sea, but property prices there equal those of the better known Monte Carlo.

One of the best known buildings in Fontvieille, Seaside Plaza, has average prices of three to four million Euros for a three bedroom apartment, and a four bedroom four bathroom one is currently on the market at close to ten million Euros.

One property company who specialise in Monaco property doubt that prices will ease much.

'By the time the development is finished prices would probably have gone up in Monaco anyway, and this new development on the housing side is likely to be aiming for quality rather than quantity', they claim. 'It's almost certain that the properties will be snapped up by investors off-plan, and then come back to the market with a premium once the buildings are complete. The development in itself will attract more attention to the Monaco property market. In the short and medium term prices are likely to rise in Monaco rather than fall'.

About The Author-- Tribune Properties produce a guide for Monaco and Monte Carlo which includes the Monaco Grand Prix and the Monaco weather.

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