Historical End At Brazilian Grand Prix - - Back-to-back Formula One World Drivers’ Titles For Britain's Jenson Button

Jenson Button claimed back-to-back Formula One world drivers’ titles for Britain for the first time in 40 years after a composed drive in the Brazilian Grand Prix.

The 29-year-old from Frome finished in fifth place, but ahead of his Brawn GP team-mate and nearest rival Rubens Barrichello, who led for the first 21 laps before fading badly in the later stages and then being further hampered by a puncture.

It was the fifth successive season that the Interlagos circuit produced decided the title, with Lewis Hamilton being crowned world champion here just 12 months ago. Brawn also claimed the constructors' title to make it a double celebration for the British team.

Mark Webber in the Red Bull drove a near faultless race to take the victory, with Robert Kubica in the BMW Sauber second and Lewis Hamilton third.

The safety car was deployed after an incident-packed first lap at Interlagos. Adrian Sutil in the Force India collided with Jarno Truli, forcing the retirement of both drivers. The Italian remonstrated forcefully with his rival by the side of the track as their damaged cars were lifted out of harm’s way.

Fernando Alonso was also forced out, while Webber clipped the front wing of Kimi Raikkonen, with the Ferrari managing to limp back to the pits.

All this was good news for Button, who took up ninth place behind the safety car having started from a very disappointing 14th position on the grid.

Barichello, Button’s Brawn GP team-mate and his only serious challenger for the world title, made a fantastic start and there was a huge roar from the home crowd as he reached the first turn in the lead from pole position.

Heikki Kovalainen pitted at the end of lap one, but left with the fuel hose attached, spilling fuel over the pit lane and causing Raikonnen’s car to go up in flames, though only momentarily. Both drivers were able to continue and none of the mechanics were injured in what was a scary moment.

Button, though, was a man on a mission, driving superbly and aggressively in the early stages after the safety car left the track. The Frome driver made a masterly overtaking manoeuvre to get past Romain Grosjean’s Renault and squeezing past Kazuki Nakajima on the following lap.

But the inexperienced Kamui Kobayashi, getting a drive in the Toyota with Tino Glock having a cracked vertebrae in his back, proved more of a problem.

Button was unable to get past the Japanese driver, before finally making his move on lap 22. The Briton got past before locking his brakes and having to give way before finally getting past for good on the following lap.

Barrichello looked to have the race in his grasp in the early stages, setting fastest lap after fastest lap, before things took a turn for the Brazilian after he pitted. Barrichello came out in seventh place and was immediately passed after a bold move from the other man still in with a chance of the world championship, Sebastian Vettel.

Mark Webber took the lead of the race, just in front of Button, who had yet to stop, and was mightily impressive from then on, while Barrichello continued to struggle with a heavy fuel load.

Near the middle of the field, Nakajima made a spectacular exit, colliding with the back of the inexperienced Kobayashi as he left the pits.

As the race progressed, it appeared that Barrichello lacked the pace to get the win he needed to realistically keep his hopes alive and a late collision with Hamilton resulted in a puncture. He returned to the conflict in eighth, but in truth he knew his race was run.