Jenson Button will head to the Brazilian Grand Prix in two weeks’ time bidding to clinch his first world title after missing his first chance to seal glory at Suzuka.
Button went into today’s race needing just five more points than his Brawn GP teammate Rubens Barrichello to keep the drivers’ championship title on British soil.
The Briton was unable to force his way through the field after starting back in 10th on the grid and had to settle for one point with his eighth place finish.
Barrichello finished one place in front of his rival in seventh to keep his hopes of winning the world title alive, while Sebastien Vettel’s pole to post triumph sees the German maintain a three-way fight for the trophy going into the penultimate race in Brazil on Oct 18.
Reigning champion Lewis Hamilton continued his good end of season form by finishing third behind Jarno Trulli’s Toyota.
Ferrari’s in-form Kimi Raikkonen finished fourth ahead of Williams driver Nico Rosberg with BMW Sauber’s Nick Heidfeld in sixth.
Button still leads the drivers’ standings with 85 points while Barrichello’s two points in Japan leave him 14 points adrift of his teammate.
Vettel, meanwhile, has an outside chance of pipping the Brawn GP duo to the title. The 22 year-old Red Bull driver is 16 points off Button with two races to go.
Brawn came so close to clinching the constructors’ championship and now need just half a point more in the remaining two races to take over from Ferrari as champions.
Button started today’s race 10th on the grid after being promoted two places, but still four places behind Barrichello.
The Brawn GP pair, along with Force India’s Adrian Sutil, Renault driver Fernando Alonso and Toro Rosso’s Sebastien Buemi were yesterday handed five-place grid demotions after failing to slow under waved yellow flags following the latter’s crash on the exit of the Spoon Curve.
However, due to the timings of the penalties and a five-place drop for Heikki Kovalainen to 11th after the Finn changed the gearbox on his McLaren, the grid took on a much-changed look following an eventual qualifying session.
While today’s race did not have the same drama as qualification, the outcome at the Suzuka circuit ensures the winner of the drivers and constructors’ championship could now be decided in Brazil.
