Hamburg - Jenson Button of Brawn GP started the penultimate race of the 2009 season down in 14th place but put in a superb drive to finish fifth and claim a maiden Formula One drivers' title. In a race won by Mark Webber of Red Bull, Button's closest rival and teammate Rubens Barrichello could only manage eighth as Brawn also took the constructors' crown.
Button was on the podium again in third place in Abu Dhabi Sunday to end the season on 95 points, followed by Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel on 84, who clinched victory in the last race, and Barrichello on 77.
The following is a race-by-race comparison between the leading drivers for the title.
1st race - Australian GP: Brawn GP finish a sensational one-two in their debut GP race as Button wins ahead of his team-mate Barrichello.
2nd race - Malaysian GP: Button is declared the winner after the race is stopped in the 33rd lap after torrential downpours made a continuation impossible.
The race classification is determined by the standings at the end of the 31st lap, meaning Nick Heidfeld finishes second from Timo Glock. However, as three quarters of the race had not been completed, only half of the championship points are awarded, meaning Button leads the standings with 15 points from Barrichello, who has 10.
3rd race - Chinese GP: Vettel clinches a rain-soaked race in commanding fashion ahead of teammate Mark Webber. Button has to make do with third place, with Barrichello fourth.
4th race - Bahrain GP: Button secures his third win of the season ahead of Vettel with Barrichello finishing down in fifth place.
5th race - Spain GP: Button continues his early-season dominance with victory ahead of Barrichello, Australian Webber and Vettel. Button leads the standings with 41 points, Barrichello has 27 and Vettel 23.
6th race - Monaco GP: Brawn remain in command as Button leads home his team's third one-two of the season. Barrichello moves past Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen at the start to settle an uneventful race in the principality. Vettel fails to finish to remain on 23 points. Button moves on to 51 points, followed by Barrichello on 35.
7th race - Turkey GP: Button claims his sixth win in seven season races after Vettel slips up from pole. Vettel has to be satisfied with second ahead of Webber while Barrichello fails to finish. Button leads on 61 points with Barrichello on 35 and Vettel six points further adrift.
8th race - British GP: Vettel narrows the gap to Button at Silverstone with his second victory of the season. Webber takes second ahead of Barrichello while Button comes home down in sixth place.
9th race - German GP: Webber overcomes a drive-through penalty to cla
