2009 Brazilian Grand Prix

Championship standings

Button leads Barrichello by 16 points with two races remaining. Vettel is a further 10 points back and still mathematically able to win the title. Brawn need only half a point to clinch the Constructors’ Championship. Red Bull would need to finish first and second in both remaining races with Brawn not scoring in either to take the title.

Previous race

Vettel won in Japan from pole, leading throughout and keeping his title hopes alive. Trulli finished second for Toyota’s final podium. Hamilton third. Button finished eighth after a series of grid penalties from the yellow-flag incident dropped him down the order; Barrichello was seventh. A late safety car period following Alguersuari’s accident came with five laps remaining.

Between-race developments

Glock suffered a cracked vertebra in his qualifying accident at Suzuka and cannot race in Brazil. Kamui Kobayashi, Toyota’s GP2 test driver, replaces him for the remainder of the season. His debut performance at Suzuka impressed enough for Toyota to retain him in Abu Dhabi.

Championship permutations

Button needs to finish within four points of teammate Barrichello to clinch the 2009 Drivers’ Championship. Vettel must finish first or second to remain in the title fight heading to Abu Dhabi.

Tyre choices

Bridgestone brings the medium and supersoft compounds.

Milestones

The World Championship has been decided at Interlagos for four consecutive seasons: Hamilton (2008), Räikkönen (2007), and Alonso (2005, 2006). Massa won here in 2006 and 2008. Barrichello aims for his first win at his home race, having previously finished no better than third here.