Formula One Review: Jenson takes the headlines as Webber cruises to victory

Formula One / David Croft / 23 October 2009 / Leave a Comment

"A drive that in my mind settled any doubt as to whether he deserved to be champion or not."

With one race to go and the World Championship decidied, David Croft reflects on a breathtaking weekend of drama in Interlagos.

3am and I haven't yet put my watch back to UK time. I'm trying to catch a few minutes of sleep en route to Heathrow after another dramatic and exciting weekend in Formula 1.

A few minutes was all I managed as Mark Webber, fresh from his victory in Brazil, was in the mood to celebrate and wasn't prepared to let anyone within range miss the party. What was a man to do other than clutch a glass of Champagne and join in? Not that I'm complaining here, there are far worse people to share a glass or two than Mark Webber, who I'm delighted picked up his 2nd win of the season in Interlagos, an easy win too as he revealed that he only spoke on the radio to the pit wall, three times in the race such was the ease in which he cruised round.

His victory though was understandably overshadowed by Jenson Button's breathtaking title winning charge from 14th to 5th. A drive that in my mind settled any doubt as to whether he deserved to be champion or not. A drive that showed guts and bravery, coupled with an understanding of the situation, necessitating control when needed and flat out, ballsy action when called upon.

Jenson thought it was the best drive of his life. Of course he did, he'd just won the world title and had he limped across the finish line on three wheels would have felt exactly the same.

In truth it was the climax to a season where Button has been the best driver on the grid. Backed by a wonderful car, at least in the first half of the campaign, he has been head and shoulders above the rest in terms of consistency. I make it that in only three races out of sixteen has he finished below his starting position, and in one of those he was taken out from behind by the woefully inadequate Grosjean.

He won six out of the first seven, a feat he was always going to find hard to live up to as Brawn's rival closed the development gap and from Silverstone onwards overtook the early pacesetters in terms of car performance.

Button has also scored points in every race bar that Grosjean inflicted retirement at Spa, something his nearest rivals could only dream of. Sebastian Vettel meanwhile will be left to rue races such as Australia where a certain podium was thrown away in his futile bid to fend off Kubica in the closing stages. Barrichello too has missed out at times, notably Spain where despite his protests at the time, he should have won and can only blame himself for not having the pace in his middle stint to do so.

It's hard to think of a time where Button hasn't taken the maximum he could from his starting position. It's true that qualifying has been his nemesis, Monaco back in May was his last pole position. But often that has been down to the cars lack of one lap performance, although it's not harsh to suggest that as the season edged towards the end, Jenson has made a mistake or two on a Saturday.

On 'Any Given Sunday' though the champion has risen to the challenge and in Brazil showed his metal. To pick himself up in the way he did after admitting to being 'totally p**sed following qualifying was so impressive and for one who has spent the last four seasons covering Jenson's fortunes, which have been mixed to say the least, it was a delight to see him finally achieve his potential.

I notice that Jenson is now [1.68] to be crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year. I hope the public support on the night matches the faith that Betfair punters have in their new F1 world champion. If it does then the award is a shoo in surely.

Before that there's one more race to come, and with the pressure now off his shoulders, what's to stop Jenson finishing the season in style by taking the top spot in Abu Dhabi? He wants it, to go out on a high and given that conditions might suit his car, it's not inconceivable that he will.

Either way with the Kings of Leon playing on Saturday night, another big party night planned for Sunday and a new track hosting F1 in the twilight, Abu Dhabi could be quite a weekend to end the 2009 season. A season where Button came of age and Brawn became the first constructors to win the title in their debut year. A season that got bogged down in the political mire for far too long, but yet, as F1 tends to time after time, still produced a great story and brilliant drama.