Button Clinches Championship

[Schwartz Fan]

Button Clinches Championship


Jenson Button clinched the Formula One World Championship with a fifth-place finish in the Grand Prix of Brazil while Mark Webber went on to win his second race of the season.

Button's title came in his 169th career start and today's finish also gave Brawn the constructors' championship. He was able to secure the titles for good when his teammate, and pole-sitter, Rubens Barrichello had a tire puncture last in the race.

“Today was the best race that I’ve driven in my career and I’m really going to enjoy this moment," Button said. "For the team to win the Constructors’ and the Drivers Championships here is just fantastic and they deserve it so very much after all the difficult times that we all went through over the winter. This season has been a rollercoaster ride from the elation of the wins at the start to the hard graft in the second half of the season which has seen us grind out the results needed to take the titles."

Button became the 10th champion from Britain putting his name with the likes of Damon Hill, Nigel Mansell, Jackie Stewart, Jim Clark and last year's champion Lewis Hamilton.

After finishes of 17th or worse in his last three starts, Webber rebounded by driving to the victory in the 71-lap race.

"It’s fantastic feeling to win again," Webber said. "As a team we’ve had quite a few victories this year off the back of some tough seasons, but today has confirmed second place for us in the Constructors’ Championship. We’re very proud of what we have achieved this year as a team – I want to thank Renault as well, the engines have been very good and they’re not easy environments for them to work in.

"Congratulations to Jenson and also to Brawn on clinching the Championships today after a good fight."

BMW Sauber F1 Team earned its second trophy in 2009 after Robert Kubica finished second after starting eighth.

"This is a great result in a difficult season, and I really hope that I will see this team on the grid next year,” Kubica said.

Lewis Hamilton came through the field from 17th on the grid to third at the checkered flag, which Ferrari's Felipe Massa displayed.

“It was an incredible race for me and I’m so happy,” Hamilton said. “Starting at the back was a completely different feeling from last year. This time, I wasn’t involved in the championship outcome, but I’m incredibly happy for Jenson. I’ve been down to congratulate him, his team and his family."

Jarno Trulli and Adrian Sutil were unable to complete a lap after being involved in an opening lap incident.

"The start was fine, I lost one position as Kimi (Räikkönen) overtook me on the outside, Sutil said. "It was fine for the next corner but then Kimi hit Webber and lost his front wing. I was following him through the corner but then suddenly I got hit in the rear and lost control of the car. Trulli was there on the outside trying to go round. It was a really stupid maneuver as there was no space and I couldn't see him at all. At that point it wasn't worth it and it ended my race far too early on as I went over into the gravel. Jarno was furious and said it was my mistake but I just told him what had happened to me. But it's over and now he's just got to deal with it."

After the on-track contact Trulli confronted Sutil after marshals told him to leave the track. As a result, Trulli reprimanded and fined $10,000.

Fernando Alonso also was unable to continue past lap 1 after contact.

Heikki Kovalainen originally finished ninth, but had 25 seconds added to his race time due to an unsafe pit stop release, which McLaren was fined $50,000 for.

Brawn GP secured the Constructors’ Championship with 161 points with Button winning the Drivers’ Championship with 89 points with the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi to take place on November 1.

RacingOne.com - Button Clinches Championship

[PhantomFullForce]

Finally. I was waiting for this moment all my life.