Webber wins in Brazil, Button World Champ

Mark Webber sprays the Bubbly

Red Bull

Jenson Button is formula one's new world champion, after finishing the Brazilian grand prix in fifth place.

As winner Mark Webber, as well as Robert Kubica and Lewis Hamilton, sprayed champagne on the podium, the Brawn driver celebrated in the Interlagos pitlane below.

"It's really amazing … my voice has gone!" said the 29-year-old Briton after singing 'We are the champions' and screaming into his radio on the slowing-down lap.

Button had started the race from 14th on the grid, completing several passing moves including who he described as the "absolutely crazy" debutant Kamui Kobayashi, and the Brawn driver insists it was a champion's drive.

"After the last few races, this one makes up for it," he said.

Brawn GP, established from the ashes of Honda's works team less than a year ago, also win the constructors' world champion by at least 9.5 points over Red Bull.

Pole sitter Rubens Barrichello led the opening stint of his 71-lap home race, but fell behind later on and ultimately finished just eighth after Hamilton punctured his rear tire during an overtaking move.

Sebastian Vettel had a strong race through the field to fourth and overtakes Barrichello for second in the championship, but even if the Red Bull driver wins in Abu Dhabi in two weeks, Button wins the title by 5 points.

"I'm a bit drained," John Button, 63 and a constant figure in the paddock since his son's debut in 2000, told British television BBC.

"The last seven or eight laps, we were all crying like little girls. I'm all washed out at the moment, I've got to accept where he is now, up there with all those great names. I haven't got my head round it."

Mark Webber in the Adrian Newey designed Red Bull car

Red Bull

“I’m happy with that!" said a happy Mark Webber after the race. "You never know in the first stint of a race what’s going to happen, although I knew Rubens (Barrichello) and Robert (Kubica) were a bit shorter than me. I was matching Robert’s pace to start with and when they made their pit stops, I knew I had a clear run to make a gap to start my second stint.

" I just cleared Jenson (Button) on my out lap, which was good too. I was just making sure the tires were comfortable for the whole stint. I was a little bit panicky in the second stint as Robert started closing, although my pace was not too bad and I knew he was quite short in the middle stint. I was then able to control the gap to Robert and he backed off towards the end, which gave me a nice run home.

"It’s fantastic feeling to win again. 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.

"It was a good weekend for the Australians, as Jason Crump won the World Speedway Championship last night. He’s a close friend of mine and he won it under difficult conditions, so a good weekend."

Results

Fastest lap: Webber, 1:13.733