2009 Brazilian Grand Prix

The 2009 Brazilian Grand Prix, officially known as the Formula 1 Grande Prêmio Petrobras do Brasil 2009 was the sixteenth round and penultimate round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, staged at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace in São Paulo, Brazil on 18 October.'16. Brazil 2009', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2009/bresil.aspx, (Accessed 24/03/2020)Matt Salisbury, 'Webbers wins but Button crowned in Brazil', crash.net, (Crash Media Group, 18/10/2009), https://www.crash.net/f1/race-report/153684/1/webber-wins-but-button-on-top-of-the-world, (Accessed 24/03/2020) The race would be won by Mark Webber for , as Jenson Button attempted to secure the 2009 World Championship with a round to spare.
Arriving in Brazil, Button held a fourteen point lead at the head of the Championship hunt, with only teammate Rubens Barrichello and Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull able to deny him the crown. Likewise, Button and Barrichello were set to claim the Constructors Championship for , with the rookie squad needing to score just two points in the final two rounds to take the title.
Qualifying would see Barrichello sweep to pole position in front of his home fans, while Webber secured second ahead of Adrian Sutil. That put the Brazilian at a huge advantage in the title hunt, for Button would qualify a lowly fourteenth, while Vettel would start from fifteenth.
The start of the race saw the leaders make a clean start, with Barrichello easing ahead of Webber, as behind Vettel's title ambitions appeared to have taken a blow as he was whacked by Heikki Kovalainen at the Senna S. Miraculously, however, the German racer escaped without damage, while Kovalainen scrambled back on forced Giancarlo Fisichella off track.
Further around the lap Sutil and Jarno Trulli tripped over each other on the run out of turn four, resulting in the pair skating off the track before shooting back across the circuit at turn six. Sutil's duly slammed into Fernando Alonso, who had no way of avoiding the errant car, with the three ruined cars triggering an immediate Safety Car.
With the safety car on track Kovalainen and a wounded Kimi Räikkönen, who had broken his front wing, dived into the pits, as the field settled in behind the SC. The order had been heavily altered by the incidents throughout the field, with Barrichello still leading Webber, Nico Rosberg moving up to third, while Button had leapt into ninth.
The race resumed a few laps later, with Button getting a run on Romain Grosjean and Kazuki Nakajima to move into seventh before the end of the restart lap. However, Button's charge up the field would be halted by a very defensive Kamui Kobayashi, who would earn the Champion-in-waiting's ire as he weaved in front of the #22 Brawn.
The order settled once Button had finally dealt with Kobayashi, as out front Barrichello failed to break away from Webber. As a result, the Australian racer was able to jump the Brazilian at the first round of stops, meaning Button only had to finish in fifth to claim the crown.
The second stint saw Button run in fourth as Rosberg and Nick Heidfeld faltered, although he was being hounded by a quartet of drivers including Lewis Hamilton and Vettel. They duly leapfrogged the #22 Brawn at the second round of stops to leave Button in sixth, although his title hopes would grow through the final stint.
Indeed, Barrichello's pace would only deteriorate during the final phase of the race, resulting in him slipping behind Robert Kubica, before contact with Hamilton caused him to suffer a puncture. That left the Brazilian down in eighth when he pitted and rejoined, while Vettel moved up into fourth, a position ahead of Webber.
With that the race and the title hunt was over, for Webber would claim victory at a cruise ahead of Kubica, while Hamilton kept Vettel at bay to complete the podium. Button, meanwhile, was able to relax in the closing stages before claiming fifth and the World Championship title, with that result also enough to earn Brawn the Constructors Championship.
==Background==
Victory for Sebastian Vettel kept the German youngster in the Championship hunt with two rounds to go, as he moved to within sixteen points of the lead. Jenson Button hence had retained the lead, and with teammate Rubens Barrichello fourteen behind the Brit was able to claim the crown in Brazil. Indeed, should Button outscore both Barrichello and Vettel then he would take the title, with a variety of other scenarios enough for him to do so.
Likewise, the Constructors Championship could be concluded on Brazilian soil, for had retained a 35.5 point lead with two rounds to go. Indeed, had just remained in the hunt by half a point as a result of the Japanese Grand Prix, and would therefore have to claim a one-two in Brazil with Brawn failing to score at all just to stay in the fight. Behind, and had held station in third and fourth, while completed the top five.
===Entry List===
The full entry list for the is outlined below:
No. 	Driver 	Entrant 	Constructor 	Chassis 	Engine 	Model 	Tyre
1 	Lewis Hamilton 	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4-24 	 	FO 108W 2.4 V8 	
2 	Heikki Kovalainen 	Vodafone McLaren Mercedes 	 	MP4-24 	 	FO 108W 2.4 V8 	
3 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 	 	F60 	 	056 2009 2.4 V8 	
4 	Kimi Räikkönen 	Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 	 	F60 	 	056 2009 2.4 V8 	
5 	Robert Kubica 	BMW Sauber F1 Team 	 	F1.09 	 	P86/9 2.4 V8 	
6 	Nick Heidfeld 	BMW Sauber F1 Team 	 	F1.09 	 	P86/9 2.4 V8 	
7 	Fernando Alonso 	Renault F1 Team 	 	R29 	 	RS27 2.4 V8 	
8 	Romain Grosjean 	Renault F1 Team 	 	R29 	 	RS27 2.4 V8 	
9 	Jarno Trulli 	Panasonic Toyota Racing 	 	TF109 	 	RVX-09 2.4 V8 	
10 	Kamui Kobayashi 	Panasonic Toyota Racing 	 	TF109 	 	RVX-09 2.4 V8 	
11 	Jaime Alguersuari 	Scuderia Toro Rosso 	 	STR4 	 	056 2008 2.4 V8 	
12 	Sébastien Buemi 	Scuderia Toro Rosso 	 	STR4 	 	056 2008 2.4 V8 	
14 	Mark Webber 	Red Bull Racing 	 	RB5 	 	RS27 2.4 V8 	
15 	Sebastian Vettel 	Red Bull Racing 	 	RB5 	 	RS27 2.4 V8 	
16 	Nico Rosberg 	AT&T Williams 	 	FW31 	 	RVX-09 2.4 V8 	
17 	Kazuki Nakajima 	AT&T Williams 	 	FW31 	 	RVX-09 2.4 V8 	
20 	Adrian Sutil 	Force India F1 Team 	 	VJM02 	 	FO 108W 2.4 V8 	
21 	Vitantonio Liuzzi 	Force India F1 Team 	 	VJM02 	 	FO 108W 2.4 V8 	
22 	Jenson Button 	Brawn GP F1 Team 	 	BGP 001 	 	FO 108W 2.4 V8 	
23 	Rubens Barrichello 	Brawn GP F1 Team 	 	BGP 001 	 	FO 108W 2.4 V8 	
Source:'Brazil 2009: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2009/bresil/engages.aspx, (Accessed 24/03/2020)	Source:'Brazil 2009: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2009/bresil/engages.aspx, (Accessed 24/03/2020)	Source:'Brazil 2009: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2009/bresil/engages.aspx, (Accessed 24/03/2020)	Source:'Brazil 2009: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2009/bresil/engages.aspx, (Accessed 24/03/2020)	Source:'Brazil 2009: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2009/bresil/engages.aspx, (Accessed 24/03/2020)	Source:'Brazil 2009: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2009/bresil/engages.aspx, (Accessed 24/03/2020)	Source:'Brazil 2009: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2009/bresil/engages.aspx, (Accessed 24/03/2020)	Source:'Brazil 2009: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2009/bresil/engages.aspx, (Accessed 24/03/2020)
==Practice Overview==
==Qualifying==
===Q1===
===Q2===
===Q3===
===Qualifying Results===
The full qualifying results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Team 	 	Q1 	Q1 	 	Q2 	Q2 	 	Q3 	Q3 	Grid
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Team 	 	Pos. 	Time 	 	Pos. 	Time 	 	Pos. 	Time 	Grid
1 	23 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	 	5 	1:24.100 	 	10 	1:21.659 	 	1 	1:19.576 	1
2 	14 	Mark Webber 	 	 	13 	1:24.722 	 	6 	1:20.803 	 	2 	1:19.668 	2
3 	20 	Adrian Sutil 	 	 	9 	1:24.447 	 	5 	1:20.753 	 	3 	1:19.912 	3
4 	9 	Jarno Trulli 	 	 	11 	1:24.621 	 	3 	1:20.635 	 	4 	1:20.097 	4
5 	4K 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 	 	2 	1:23.047 	 	8 	1:21.378 	 	5 	1:20.168 	5
6 	12 	Sébastien Buemi 	 	 	10 	1:24.591 	 	4 	1:20.701 	 	6 	1:20.250 	6
7 	16 	Nico Rosberg 	 	 	1 	1:22.828 	 	1 	1:20.368 	 	7 	1:20.326 	7
8 	5 	Robert Kubica 	 	 	3 	1:23.072 	 	7 	1:21.147 	 	8 	1:20.631 	8
9 	17 	Kazuki Nakajima 	 	 	4 	1:23.161 	 	2 	1:20.427 	 	9 	1:20.674 	9
10 	7 	Fernando Alonso 	 	 	15 	1:24.842 	 	9 	1:21.657 	 	10 	1:21.422 	10
11 	10 	Kamui Kobayashi 	 	 	7 	1:24.335 	 	11 	1:21.960 	 	 	 	11
12 	11 	Jaime Alguersuari 	 	 	14 	1:24.773 	 	12 	1:22.231 	 	 	 	12
13 	8 	Romain Grosjean 	 	 	8 	1:24.394 	 	13 	1:22.477 	 	 	 	13
14 	22 	Jenson Button 	 	 	6 	1:24.297 	 	14 	1:22.504 	 	 	 	14
15* 	21 	Vitantonio Liuzzi 	 	 	12 	1:24.645 	 	NC 	— 	 	 	 	20
16 	15 	Sebastian Vettel 	 	 	16 	1:25.009 	 	 	 	 	 	 	15
17 	2K 	Heikki Kovalainen 	 	 	17 	1:25.052 	 	 	 	 	 	 	16
18 	1K 	Lewis Hamilton 	 	 	18 	1:25.192 	 	 	 	 	 	 	17
19 	6 	Nick Heidfeld 	 	 	19 	1:25.515 	 	 	 	 	 	 	18
20 	3K 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	 	20 	1:40.703 	 	 	 	 	 	 	19
Source:'FORMULA 1 GRANDE PRÊMIO PETROBRAS DO BRASIL 2009 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2009), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2009/races/858/brazil/qualifying.html, (Accessed 24/03/2020)	Source:'FORMULA 1 GRANDE PRÊMIO PETROBRAS DO BRASIL 2009 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2009), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2009/races/858/brazil/qualifying.html, (Accessed 24/03/2020)	Source:'FORMULA 1 GRANDE PRÊMIO PETROBRAS DO BRASIL 2009 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2009), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2009/races/858/brazil/qualifying.html, (Accessed 24/03/2020)	Source:'FORMULA 1 GRANDE PRÊMIO PETROBRAS DO BRASIL 2009 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2009), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2009/races/858/brazil/qualifying.html, (Accessed 24/03/2020)	Source:'FORMULA 1 GRANDE PRÊMIO PETROBRAS DO BRASIL 2009 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2009), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2009/races/858/brazil/qualifying.html, (Accessed 24/03/2020)	Source:'FORMULA 1 GRANDE PRÊMIO PETROBRAS DO BRASIL 2009 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2009), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2009/races/858/brazil/qualifying.html, (Accessed 24/03/2020)	Source:'FORMULA 1 GRANDE PRÊMIO PETROBRAS DO BRASIL 2009 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2009), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2009/races/858/brazil/qualifying.html, (Accessed 24/03/2020)	Source:'FORMULA 1 GRANDE PRÊMIO PETROBRAS DO BRASIL 2009 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2009), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2009/races/858/brazil/qualifying.html, (Accessed 24/03/2020)	Source:'FORMULA 1 GRANDE PRÊMIO PETROBRAS DO BRASIL 2009 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2009), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2009/races/858/brazil/qualifying.html, (Accessed 24/03/2020)	Source:'FORMULA 1 GRANDE PRÊMIO PETROBRAS DO BRASIL 2009 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2009), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2009/races/858/brazil/qualifying.html, (Accessed 24/03/2020)	Source:'FORMULA 1 GRANDE PRÊMIO PETROBRAS DO BRASIL 2009 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2009), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2009/races/858/brazil/qualifying.html, (Accessed 24/03/2020)	Source:'FORMULA 1 GRANDE PRÊMIO PETROBRAS DO BRASIL 2009 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2009), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2009/races/858/brazil/qualifying.html, (Accessed 24/03/2020)	Source:'FORMULA 1 GRANDE PRÊMIO PETROBRAS DO BRASIL 2009 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2009), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2009/races/858/brazil/qualifying.html, (Accessed 24/03/2020)	Source:'FORMULA 1 GRANDE PRÊMIO PETROBRAS DO BRASIL 2009 - QUALIFYING', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2009), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2009/races/858/brazil/qualifying.html, (Accessed 24/03/2020)
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
*K Indicates a driver was equipped with KERS during the session.
*Bold indicates the fastest driver's time in each session.
** Liuzzi received a five place grid penalty for changing his gearbox.
===Grid===
==Race==
===Report===
Ciaron Pilbeam Red Bull team joined on the podium to receive the winning manufacturer’s award.
===Results===
The full results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Laps 	Time/Retired 	Grid 	Points
1 	14 	Mark Webber 	 	71 	1:32:23.081 	2 	10
2 	5 	Robert Kubica 	 	71 	+7.626s 	8 	8
3 	1 	Lewis Hamilton 	 	71 	+18.944s 	17 	6
4 	15 	Sebastian Vettel 	 	71 	+19.652s 	15 	5
5 	22 	Jenson Button 	 	71 	+29.005s 	14 	4
6 	4 	Kimi Räikkönen 	 	71 	+33.340s 	5 	3
7 	12 	Sébastien Buemi 	 	71 	+35.991s 	6 	2
8 	23 	Rubens Barrichello 	 	71 	+45.454s 	1 	1
9 	10 	Kamui Kobayashi 	 	71 	+1:03.324 	11 	
10 	3 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	 	71 	+1:10.665 	19 	
11 	21 	Vitantonio Liuzzi 	 	71 	+1:11.388 	20 	
12* 	2 	Heikki Kovalainen 	 	71 	+1:13.499 	16 	
13 	8 	Romain Grosjean 	 	70 	+1 Lap 	13 	
14 	11 	Jaime Alguersuari 	 	70 	+1 Lap 	12 	
Ret 	17 	Kazuki Nakajima 	 	30 	Collision 	9 	
Ret 	16 	Nico Rosberg 	 	27 	Gearbox 	7 	
Ret 	6 	Nick Heidfeld 	 	21 	Fuel system 	18 	
Ret 	20 	Adrian Sutil 	 	0 	Collision 	3 	
Ret 	9 	Jarno Trulli 	 	0 	Collision 	4 	
Ret 	7 	Fernando Alonso 	 	0 	Collision 	10 	
Source:'Brazil 2009: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2009/bresil/classement.aspx, (Accessed 24/03/2020)	Source:'Brazil 2009: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2009/bresil/classement.aspx, (Accessed 24/03/2020)	Source:'Brazil 2009: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2009/bresil/classement.aspx, (Accessed 24/03/2020)	Source:'Brazil 2009: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2009/bresil/classement.aspx, (Accessed 24/03/2020)	Source:'Brazil 2009: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2009/bresil/classement.aspx, (Accessed 24/03/2020)	Source:'Brazil 2009: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2009/bresil/classement.aspx, (Accessed 24/03/2020)	Source:'Brazil 2009: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2009/bresil/classement.aspx, (Accessed 24/03/2020)	Source:'Brazil 2009: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/2009/bresil/classement.aspx, (Accessed 24/03/2020)
*K Indicates a driver was equipped with KERS during the session.
** Kovalainen received a 25 second time penalty for an unsafe release.
==Milestones==
* Jenson Button declared as the FIA Formula One World Championship for Drivers Champion.
** This was Button's first and only World Championship title.
* secured the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship for Constructors title.
** This was the first and only World Constructors Championship for Brawn as a constructor.
** Mercedes claimed their second World Championship as an engine supplier, and first since .
* Debut race for Kamui Kobayashi.[Archived] '2009 Brazilian GP', chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2014), https://web.archive.org/web/20190410183539/http://chicanef1.com/racetit.pl?year=2009&gp=Brazilian%20GP&r=1, (Accessed 24/03/2020) - Original
* Rubens Barrichello claimed his fourteenth and final pole position.
** This was also the fifth and final pole for Brawn as a constructor.
* Mark Webber claimed his second career victory.
* secured their fifth win as a constructor.
** secured their 120th win as an engine supplier.
* Robert Kubica claimed the seventeenth and final podium finish for as a constructor.
** This was also the 86th and final podium for as an engine supplier.
==Standings==
Jenson Button was declared as the FIA Formula One World Championship Champion, having moved fifteen point clear with a race to spare. That hence meant that Sebastian Vettel and Rubens Barrichello would duel for the runner-up spot at the season finale in Abu Dhabi, with the German racer holding a two point advantage in that fight. Elsewhere, Mark Webber was set to finish the season in fourth, while Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Räikkönen would duel for fifth at the finale.
Likewise, the fight for the Constructors Championship was over with a race to go, for had moved onto an unassailable tally of 161 points in their debut season. That meant that would have to console themselves with second, leaving the only major fight to be fought at the season finale as a duel for third. That would be disputed between and , with just a point separating them with a race to go.
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Jenson Button 	89 	
2 	Sebastian Vettel 	74 	1
3 	Rubens Barrichello 	72 	1
4 	Mark Webber 	61.5 	
5 	Lewis Hamilton 	49 	1
6 	Kimi Räikkönen 	48 	1
7 	Nico Rosberg 	34.5 	
8 	Jarno Trulli 	30.5 	
9 	Fernando Alonso 	26 	
10 	Timo Glock 	24 	
11 	Felipe Massa 	22 	
12 	Heikki Kovalainen 	22 	
13 	Robert Kubica 	17 	1
14 	Nick Heidfeld 	15 	1
15 	Giancarlo Fisichella 	8 	
16 	Adrian Sutil 	5 	
17 	Sébastien Buemi 	5 	
18 	Sébastien Bourdais 	2 	
World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	161 	
2 	 	135.5 	
3 	 	71 	1
4 	 	70 	1
5 	 	54.5 	
6 	 	34.5 	
7 	 	32 	1
8 	 	26 	1
9 	 	13 	
10 	 	7 	
Only point scoring drivers are shown.
==References==
Images and videos:
*
References:
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:2009 Grands Prix
Category:Brazilian Grand Prix
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:Formula One races in Brazil