Race: Button and Brawn GP champions… Webber winner!

Jenson Button, by finishing 5th in the 2009 Brazilian Grand Prix, secured the world drivers’ championship title, one race before the end of the season. Brawn GP also clinched the constructors’ title despite a victory from Red Bull’s Mark Webber. Button benefited from a slow puncture suffered by Barrichello and Vettel’s 4th place to decisively widen the gap over his pursuers in the standings… Kubica (BMW) and Hamilton (McLaren) reached the podium in a race where the rain ultimately didn’t appear.

Jenson Button made an incredible comeback: Starting 16th, the Englishman climbed up to 5th place. Surpassing his teammate Barrichello, it was enough to win his first world title. Sebastian Vettel was also a potential contender for the title. The German started 15th and climbed up to 4th position. Victory was necessary for him to maintain his chances of winning the championship at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in two weeks. This is the first time since 2004 that the title is not decided at the final Grand Prix of the calendar…

Brawn GP, which was still dependent on Honda less than 12 months ago, wins the constructors’ championship in its first season under this name. The team needed half a point to win ahead of Red Bull, which secures second place in the standings. McLaren, with Hamilton’s podium finish, takes advantage to overtake Ferrari by a single point in the championship before the final race.

The climb of Hamilton, Vettel, and Button was quickly facilitated in the first lap due to numerous collisions and race incidents. Vettel made contact with Kovalainen’s McLaren after the first corner. The Finn spun in the pack, hitting Fisichella’s Ferrari. A few meters further, Räikkönen, who had a great start thanks to the KERS, attacked Webber. The Australian defended his position and damaged the Finn’s front wing. In the following corners, it was Trulli and Sutil who caught the spotlight. The Italian in the Toyota tried to overtake the Force India. Sutil didn’t see the Toyota coming and sent it crashing into the wall at the edge of the track. The contact reciprocally sent Sutil skidding across the grass. The Force India slid for 100 meters before returning to the track in the next corner and accidentally crashing into Fernando Alonso’s car—who couldn’t avoid the impact. The FIA showed Trulli running towards Sutil a few seconds later to demand an explanation in a nervous manner… The situation caused the Safety Car to be deployed.

The images show a fire in the pits a few seconds later. Kovalainen went to refuel to change strategy after his collision. He starts too quickly and leaves with the refueling hose, which he tears off. Fuel spills onto the pit lane and ignites upon contact with Räikkönen’s Ferrari, which has just had its nose changed. The fire is controlled, and Räikkönen’s cockpit is spared. It is Brawn GP’s mechanics who remove the hose from Kovalainen’s McLaren.

Four laps later, Barrichello makes a very good restart ahead of Webber, Rosberg, and Kubica. Vettel and Button are in 9th and 11th positions respectively and immediately go on the attack. Button will overtake 2 drivers in the following lap. He will remain stuck for several tens of minutes behind Kobayashi and his Toyota. Glock’s replacement driver shows good skills and resists well. Button will have to complain over the radio for Kobayashi to more or less let him pass in the next lap.

At the same time, Barrichello comes in for his first stop. It is short but early and he loses two positions after the first round of refueling. He could have lost one more if Rosberg hadn’t come in to retire in the pits for mechanical reasons. Button’s coronation began to take shape and was confirmed during the second refueling stop. Barrichello suffered a slow puncture which forced him to come back to change tires. He eventually finishes 8th… once again caught up by the Brazilian bad luck charm. Button is therefore the world champion with one race to go before the end of the season.

Red Bull Renault claims another victory with Webber, his second this season, while Kubica takes the podium for BMW. Hamilton took advantage of the Safety Car to make only one pit stop and climb to the third step of the podium.

Vettel finishes 4th, ahead of the 2009 world champion. Räikkönen, despite his wing change, is 6th and leads Sébastien Buemi in the Toro Rosso. Barrichello scores a small point. Kovalainen, also a survivor of the first lap, is 9th, ahead of an incredible Kobayashi. The Japanese driver made only one mistake, colliding with his compatriot Nakajima. The Williams driver tried to overtake him when he cut back on him and destroyed his front wing, which then slid under the car at more than 300km/h. The Williams nearly took off and slid for 200 meters, ending its race at nearly 80km/h into the tires. A shaken Nakajima gets out of his car on his own.

Fisichella is 11th, ahead of Liuzzi who started last. Grosjean is 13th, as at the start, despite benefiting from a one-stop strategy. Alguersuari is dead last to cross the finish line.

Note that all race incidents will be reviewed by the FIA and the stewards after the race. Possible disqualifications are possible.

Brazilian Grand Prix Results – Sunday, October 18, 2009: