Button and Brawn can win titles in Japan

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Update: see how Button and Brawn can win the titles in Brazil.

The Japanese Grand Prix this weekend could see the conclusion of either or both world championships.

Drivers’ championship

Jenson Button will seal the drivers’ championship if he scores at least five points more than team mate Rubens Barrichello. He can do that by:

  • Winning the race with Barrichello fourth or worse
  • Finishing second with Barrichello sixth or worse
  • Finishing third with Barrichello eighth or worse
  • Finishing fourth with Barrichello not scoring

If he doesn’t manage that, Barrichello will go into his home race at Sao Paolo in two weeks’ time still able to win the championship. However, there is nothing Barrichello can do to clinch the title at home.

Sebastian Vettel, meanwhile, needs to out-score Button by six points to stay in the championship hunt.

Constructors’ championship

Brawn are very likely to win the constructors’ championship this weekend. Red Bull have to win the race to stay in contention, and that’s just for starters.

Brawn need a 36-point lead after this race to win the championship. They are 42.5 points ahead, so they can lose a maximum of six points to Red Bull and still win the title.

There are many permutations for how that can be achieved and we’ll keep an eye on them during the race live blog. However it’s worth noting:

  • Brawn are champions if they get one car home either first or second, with the other at least fourth, regardless of where Red Bull finish
  • A one-two finish for Red Bull is the only result that guarantees they stay in contention regardless of where Brawn finish
  • Red Bull need to finish fifth and sixth at minimum (with Brawn not scoring) to stay in contention. If they lose a car the other one must finish second at least

The team formerly known as Honda has a good chance of winning the constructors’ championship at Honda’s own circuit…

See the championship standings after Singapore in full

Author information

Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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9 comments on “Button and Brawn can win titles in Japan”

  1. Awesome. In your face, HONDA!

  2. If Button is to win it, I hope it’s not at Suzuka. The place has had far better titles decided!

    Dream scenario: Barichello takes third at Suzuka, Button doesn’t score. Barichello wins at Interlagos, Button fifth behind Red Bulls and Hamilton. Barichello wins at Abu Dhabi, Hamilton second, Button third. Rubens wins title!

    1. Would be awesome, seeing as he isn’t going to be in a competitive car (Williams, I’m looking at you!) next year.

    2. Yeah that would be the best… fitting end.. or almost the end of Barrichello’s career…

  3. Brawn are champions if they get one car home either first or second, with the other at least fourth, regardless of where Red Bull finish

    Actually, if a Brawn car wins, they automatically become WCC, even if the other Brawn retires and the RBRs finish 2-3.

    1. Also, if I calculate correctly,… if a Brawn car finishes second (8 Pts), the Red Bulls can score a maximum of 16 Points (1st and 3rd). So 2 additional points for Brawn would do (7th).

  4. Wish RBR had a better chance but then again at least this year’s title fight would be over. Hope Barrichello gets it though out of the Brawns.

  5. I am completely happy for Brawn to wrap it up in China, they fully deserve it and I think when they get back up to speed, probably in 2011 though they may yet suprise in 2010, I think we are seeing a new F1 dynasty in the making, to match Williams, McLaren and Ferrari.

    I don’t really think that Barrichello is going to pull it back, I’m afraid, even Eddie is admiting it now. So what i want instead is a few champions drives out of Button. So I can at least feel he deserves it.

  6. Since Barrichello got the same break as Button in the car he started to overscore him. Coincidence? I just think Barrichello is a better driver than Button…

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