11/05/24
October 18, 2009
Jenson Button is the 2009 Formula One champion: A race that saw Kimi Raikkonen on fire, a huge opening lap accident, and action throughout the field, the title was sealed when Lewis Hamilton clipped Rubens Barrichello, causing the Brazilian to get a puncture. Jenson finished fifth in the race and won the championship with one race to go. Despite not winning a race since Turkey, Jenson has won one more race than Lewis did in 2008 to become champion. It's the first time since 1969 there has been back to back different British drivers as champion. (Then it was Graham Hill and Jackie Stewart.)
posted by Drood to auto racing at 02:22 PM - 11 comments
As the BBC commentators said, they should race at Interlagos every week. Or at least, have tracks of that quality for every grand prix.
Brawn GP sealed the constructors' championship today as well, and without taking anything away from Button, I'm sure that he'd lay plenty of credit his team -- on the brink of leaving F1 after Honda's pullout -- for helping make the opposition look pedestrian, particularly in the opening half-dozen races.
posted by etagloh at 07:01 PM on October 18, 2009
Jens finally gets it done, congrats to him. Singing "We Are The Champions" in the cockpit!! Was happy to see the rain let up long enough for a good fight for the title. Rubens is a class guy, I hope he continues on next season.
posted by eccsport78 at 07:05 PM on October 18, 2009
Congrats to Jenson. Quite an amazing story to go from the middle (or back) of the pack to champion. Poor Barrichello... he has no luck.
That was the most eventful F1 race in quite a while. My wife, who can't stand car racing, was actually watching for the first 10-15 laps.
posted by dusted at 10:34 PM on October 18, 2009
Drood: I could look this up, but I'm guessing you probably know without having to, so I'll be lazy and ask you instead - how many titles has Ross Brawn won the title now?
posted by JJ at 05:39 AM on October 19, 2009
Off the top of my head that'd be title number 8 I think. 7 with Schumacher. One with Jenson. And it's 9 titles if you go outside F1 and included a sportscar title in the early 90's.
Find it interesting. Interlagos is one of the few non-Tilke circuits, and produced one of the best races of the year.
I do not think this is a coincidence.
Comment of the on day on BBC was Brundle saying about Heikki "setting fire to random Ferrari's in the pitlane."
So last year Massa and Ferrari fans claimed Timo moved over to let Lewis through so he'd win the title. How long until we hear that Lewis collided with Rubens deliberately to cause the puncture?
I bet this is the only time you'll hear that theory. Why?
Because Rubens fans aren't batshit insane like Ferrari's...
posted by Drood at 06:00 AM on October 19, 2009
The thing I found interesting about the circuit was how it made clear the trade off and choice teams had to make with downforce. Button had so much more straight line speed than Kobayashi and was all over him for most of the lap, until turns 9 and 10 (or maybe 10 and 11) where the extra downforce on the Toyota allowed Kobayashi to pull out just enough of a lead to hold on down the finish straight each time.
posted by JJ at 08:14 AM on October 19, 2009
Thanks, everyone.
posted by JButton at 11:54 AM on October 19, 2009
Oh look, Jenson has joined us. (Not.)
Kobayashi may be a talent for the future I think. He did bloody well for his first race and resisted Button superbly.
Clearly the solution to F1 is to shitcan all the Tilke atrocities, and have 3 hour rain delayed qualifying sessions.
posted by Drood at 03:10 PM on October 19, 2009
Why does everyone hate Kubica?! He comes in second and its as if 2nd doesn't matter now...
posted by StarFucker at 03:55 AM on October 20, 2009
It's because he has a big nose.
posted by JJ at 05:11 AM on October 20, 2009
Apologies for the run-on sentence from hell in that! Good lord.