Formula 1: Button Wins World Championship

A lot was depending on this race. Things could have turned out in many different ways, and could have had everyone scampering for the calculators. The title for world champion was still open for Sebastian Vettel and Rubens Barrichello. RBR-Renault was trying hard to catch Brawn-Mercedes for the constructor's title.

Mark Webber (RBR-Renault) won the Brazilian Grand Prix, Robert Kubica (BMW-Sauber) finished 2nd around 7½ seconds behind, and the last podium position went to Lewis Hamilton (McLaren Mercedes). But Jenson Button put all the speculation to rest. He started the race on P14, and managed to crawl up 9 valuable places to finish 5th. Teammate Rubens Barrichello, though dropping places from his original start, managed to grab the last point-scoring-position and got Brawn that valuable 1 point. Thus, Button will become the world champion for the 2009 season, regardless of what happens in the last race at Abu Dhabi. Likewise, Brawn-Mercedes also have clinched the constructor's title for 2009. RBR-Renault have finished 2nd, and it leaves McLaren-Mercedes and Ferrari fighting for the 3rd place.

Who would have thought this would be the script for 2009? With the 2008 season seeing McLaren-Mercedes and Ferrari right at the top, way ahead of all the others, even 3rd place this year seems not much of a prize. But that is what sports, especially Formula 1 is all about. The uncertainty being guaranteed. Brawn have pulled of the unexpected, and that too in their debut year. New world champion Jenson Button must be on cloud nine, for just a year back he would be happy just to get into the points. Read related articles at Formula One: Season 2009 (Race 12) and Formula 1: Race 15.

The last race in Abu Dhabi on the 1st of November would no doubt be a great one to watch, and for the numbers game, 2 things would be decided. Whether Ferrari or McLaren-Mercedes clinch the 3rd spot for the constructor's title, and also if Lewis Hamilton or Kimi Raikkonen (1 point separates them at present) take the 5th place in the driver's championship. And mind you, next year promises a whole lot of changes, with Fernando Alonso moving to Ferrari, Kimi Raikkonen moving to McLaren-Mercedes and so on. So a lot to look forward too. Formula 1, at its best!