2009 Brazilian Grand Prix stats & facts
Same number, same engine, same finishing position - different champion
In a remarkable coincidence the championship was won at Interlagos by a British driver who finished fifth in the number 22 car powered by a Mercedes for the second year in a row. But this time it was Jenson Button and not Lewis Hamilton.
Read on for more facts and stats from the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Both championship winners have now been decided – for more stats on Jenson Button and Brawn winning the championships see here:
The focus of the drivers’ championship is now the battle for second place, with Barrichello just points ahead of Vettel.
In the constructors’ championship Red Bull are confirmed in second place but McLaren have taken third place off Ferrari by a single point.
Read more: Championship standings after Brazil
Mark Webber has entered the 71-strong club of multiple Grand Prix winners. His second victory gives him as many as Bill Vukovich, José Froilán González, Maurice Trintignant, Wolfgang von Trips, Pedro Rodriguez, Jo Siffert, Peter Revson, Patrick Depailler, Jean-Pierre Jabouille, Patrick Tambay and Elio de Angelis.
It was the fifth Grand Prix win for Red Bull. Webber set the fastest lap for the third time in his career and second race in a row.
Barrichello achieved the 14th pole position of his career, matching the tallies of Alberto Ascari, James Hunt and Ronnie Peterson. It was the first time he’d been on pole position since the same race five years ago.
Barrichello is now both the 18th-oldest and the third-youngest driver to take pole position at a Grand Prix. He was 22 years, three months and four days old when he scored his maiden pole at Spa-Francorchamps for Jordan in 1994. That was a record at the time, but since then two younger drivers have taken it off him: Fernando Alonso at Sepang in 2003, and then Sebastian Vettel at Monza last year.
Barrichello’s latest pole position came at the age of 37 years, four months and 25 days. The last older driver to set a pole position was Michael Schumacher in the 2006 French Grand Prix.
As Daniel pointed out this was the fourth consecutive pole position for a Brazilian driver at home. Of the last seven Brazilian Grands Prix a local driver has been on pole for six of them: Barrichello in 2003 and 2004, Massa from 2006-2008 and now Barrichello again. The foreign interloper was Alonso in 2005.
Robert Kubica was back on the podium for the first time since last year’s Japanese Grand Prix. He matched BMW’s best result of the year with second – only this time they got the full eight points for it (the other was Nick Heidfeld’s at Sepang).
Sebastien Buemi scored his first points since the Chinese Grand Prix, and matched his best career result with seventh. He qualified sixth, his best result to date.
Kamui Kobayashi made his F1 Grand Prix debut and became the 25th different driver to start a race this year.
Hamilton started 17th and finished third, gaining 14 places. That’s the second biggest improvement in a race this year – both Toyota drivers gained 16 places in the opening round at Melbourne (though it would have been 15 if Hamilton hadn’t been disqualified).
The world championship was decided at the Brazilian Grand Prix for the fifth year in a row.
If you’ve spotted any other interesting stats and facts from the Brazilian Grand Prix please share them with us in the comments.
2009 Brazilian Grand Prix
- Webber wins in style as Button races to title (Brazilian Grand Prix race report)
- Brazilian Grand Prix in pictures
- Jenson Button is F1 world champion
- Brawn win 2009 F1 constructors’ title
- Brazilian Grand Prix fastest laps analysis
- Brazilian Grand Prix – rate the race
- Championship standings after Brazil
- Brazilian Grand Prix result
Journeyer said on 19th October 2009, 10:54
Vettel is now 2 points ahead of Barrichello in the battle for 2nd.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 19th October 2009, 12:09
Indeed he is – swapped them around.
Journeyer said on 19th October 2009, 13:08
So why is Barrichello still ahead of Vettel in the article? ;)
mm said on 19th October 2009, 11:09
I believe even with the final race remaining this will be the most mechanically consistent WDC in at least a decade with only 56 retirements so far. (mind that includes crashes)
(this still works even if you do an average taking into account differences in numbers of cars on the grid)
Any stats on number of retirements of all time: worst/best season of all time? worst/best team? most lucky/unlucky driver? driver who crashes the least/most? or whatever you can find.
If Williams and Torro Rosso got a podium in Abu Dhabi I believe it will be the first time every team will have got a podium.
mm said on 19th October 2009, 11:10
^ that’s a little optimistic regarding Torro Rosso and Williams perhaps ;)
Gusto said on 19th October 2009, 12:03
La Canta Magnifico is probably number crunching as we speak, but Her site is down at the moment :-( . Which brings me to the point, Is this the first race to cause the F1 Fanatic server to do a HAL 9000.
GeeMac said on 19th October 2009, 13:56
I don’t think it’s too optomistic in respect of Williams. Rosberg has been solid this season and Nakajima has shown flashes of his talent, despite not scoring.
Maybe a bridge too far for Toro Rosso though.
Woffin said on 19th October 2009, 11:12
First time in the new qualifying system that P1 had the fastest time, P2 had the 2nd slowest etc all the way down till last place? Normally P11 to 15 are faster than the top 10 because of low fuel.
Chalky said on 19th October 2009, 11:19
Probably the last time too, as the rules change next year about fuel.
Ned Flanders said on 19th October 2009, 12:02
Don’t get your logic there Chalky. Surely next rule changes will mean Q3 will be the fastest session, because the drivers will be running on low fuel?
Charlie said on 19th October 2009, 11:27
Also, as well as winning it in car number 22, in Brazil, with a Mercedes engine, both Button and Hamilton won the championship by finishing fifth in the race.
And both their names end in “…ton”
Nitpicker said on 19th October 2009, 16:54
And they both have and ‘e’ and an ‘s’ in their first names. The similarities are astounding!
luigismen said on 19th October 2009, 20:03
Winning it to a brazilian title contender from Sao Paulo
inc0mmunicado said on 19th October 2009, 23:06
who spent time as a #2 for the Schu
Superbus said on 19th October 2009, 23:44
Yeah and also it’s the second Brazilian whose dreams are shattered by a British in the Brazilian Grand Prix.
sato113 said on 20th October 2009, 0:41
yeah we got that…
Bullfrog said on 19th October 2009, 11:29
You could tell Kubica hadn’t been on a podium for a while – he forgot which side 2nd was on!
Guilherme Teixeira said on 19th October 2009, 11:30
Didn’t he featured in Q3 in the Chinese Grand Prix, qualifying 10th?
Ned Flanders said on 19th October 2009, 11:59
Yeah, he did
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 19th October 2009, 12:10
You’re right – have fixed it.
sato113 said on 19th October 2009, 11:42
wrong!
TommyB said on 19th October 2009, 11:54
The first time any driver has been on the podium when he didn’t want too. Poor Lewis looked scared to death
Ned Flanders said on 19th October 2009, 12:03
Yeah, I thought that too. Mabye he just wasn’t happy with the tiny plastic trophy they gave him?
TommyB said on 19th October 2009, 11:57
The first time someone was on the podium when they didn’t want to be? Poor Lewis look scared to be up there
Gusto said on 19th October 2009, 12:14
I think the scared to death look was because of the abuse coming from the crowd, and considering a Police Helicopter was shot out the sky in Rio a couple of days previous He had reason too.
Nitpicker said on 19th October 2009, 16:57
It’s a well-known fact that most F1 spectators are also helicopter-shooting crims. I know I am.
Terry Fabulous said on 19th October 2009, 21:58
Nitpicker stop being a jerk, Lewis was subject to an enormous amount of hate last year when he won the title and was roundly booed this year.
And it is a well know fact that there is a powerful and dangerous criminal element running through the major cities of Brazil.
Gusto said on 19th October 2009, 22:08
lol, I was obviously implying that in a country with rampant gun crime, He goes and knocks the Brazilian driver off the podium a year after beating the local Hero to the WDC. He just wanted to get out off there double quick and not even accept a trophy that makes the Subbuteo FA Cup look good, sure you didn`t fall out off bed :-).
Ned Flanders said on 19th October 2009, 12:12
This was the 5th consecutive drivers championship to be decided at Interlagos. I always used to think of the Japanese GP as the traditional title decider, but now that it is being pushed earlier into the season it is losing that position. Does anyone know which race has held the most championship deciders?
I find it interesting that so many championships go down to the wire in F1. Obviously some have been blatantly manufactured by Bernie E and the FIA to try and create a spectacle. I know that MotoGP has only had one last race decider in about 20 years, so the statistics don’t quite add up.
Random Chimp said on 19th October 2009, 13:17
Wouldn’t be surprised if the powers that be tried that on this season. Button’s year has been very odd.
Nitpicker said on 19th October 2009, 17:02
Nothing to do with Brawn having a chassis advantage at the start of the season and the others slowly catching up? Nothing to do with the fact that Jenson tends to be super-fast when the car suits and then goes a bit off when car balance isn’t perfect? It doesn’t seem so odd at all really.
Daniel said on 19th October 2009, 12:18
A sad stat for Rubens: for the sixth time (2000-2004 – Schumacher, 2009 – Button), the world champion is his team-mate, and yet he never won a title of his own…
Daniel said on 19th October 2009, 12:20
A sad stat for Rubens Barrichello: for the sixth time (2000-2004 – Schumacher, 2009 – Button) the world champion is his team-mate, and yet he never won a title of his own…
stjoslin said on 19th October 2009, 12:42
Interlagos is the only track currently used in F1 to have been used continually since 1990 that has not had any changes in circuit configuration.
Gerhard Berger 1990 fastest lap in that race of a 1m 19.8s
Weber’s fastest lap from 2009 was a 1m 13.7 – some 6 seconds faster!
Suzuka and Monza have been changed slightly so do not qualify for such a distinguished accolade. :)
Derek said on 19th October 2009, 13:53
stjoslin
That is an interesting fact!! 6 secs is a lifetime in F1.
Nitpicker said on 19th October 2009, 17:03
So is 19 years of car development, smart guy.
Wesley said on 19th October 2009, 17:23
Wake up on the wrong side of the bed super smart guy?You are such a smart***
Ned Flanders said on 19th October 2009, 15:30
It would be interesting if someone could find the fastest laps from each year since 1990 and see which years have had the biggest difference in times. Not me though- I can’t be bothered!
But I can tell you the fastest lap in 2004 was 1m 11.4, and pole position was 1m 10.6, so the cars could go at least a couple of seconds quicker with the old regulations.
ajokay said on 19th October 2009, 16:10
1990 – 1:19.899 – Berger
1991 – 1:20.436 – Mansell
1992 – 1:19.490 – Patrese
1993 – 1:20.024 – M Schumacher
1994 – 1:18.455 – M Schumacher
1995 – 1:20.921 – M Schumacher
1996 – 1:21.547 – Hill
1997 – 1:18.397 – Villeneuve
1998 – 1:19.337 – Hakkinen
1999 – 1:18.448 – Hakkinen
2000 – 1:14.755 – M Schumacher
2001 – 1:15.693 – R Schumacher
2002 – 1:16.079 – Montoya
2003 – 1:22.032 – Barrichello
2004 – 1:11.473 – Montoya
2005 – 1:12.268 – Raikkonen
2006 – 1:12.162 – M Schumacher
2007 – 1:12.445 – Raikkonen
2008 – 1:13.736 – Massa
2009 – 1:13.733 – Webber
Mussolini's Pet Cat said on 19th October 2009, 17:24
I’m guessing Montoya’s time was when traction control and all other techno bits were working overtime.
Makes you appreciate what these guys are doing without TC this season.
Ned Flanders said on 19th October 2009, 19:52
Ah, good work ajokay. Interesting that the fastest lap in 1998 was 8 seconds slower than in 2004- I don’t understand why they were slow in the late 90′s
Terry Fabulous said on 19th October 2009, 22:01
In the late 90′s they got rid of slick tyres (boo) and made the cars narrower.
Which slowed them down for a little but not for too long thank goodness.
Terry Fabulous said on 19th October 2009, 22:10
In the late 90s they narrowed the cars and introduced grooved tyres to slow them down.
Thankfully it didn’t work for too long!
luigismen said on 19th October 2009, 20:08
2003 pole lap R Barrichello
Ferrari – 1:10.646
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 19th October 2009, 23:29
I think Interlagos has had a few, though fairly subtle, changes. Ferradura was re-profiled a couple of years ago, and the track’s been re-surfaced. But it must be the most substantially similar circuit for 20 years, yes.
Red Andy said on 19th October 2009, 13:01
Heidfeld’s retirement means that his previous run of one consecutive finish comes to an end, only 40 short of his own record.
Damon said on 19th October 2009, 14:05
Hahahaha.
This record will stay for many generations.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 19th October 2009, 23:30
LOL nice one Andy :-)
Gusto said on 20th October 2009, 0:27
Bad luck always comes in Three`s.
UnicornF1 said on 19th October 2009, 13:08
Also, both finished 5th!
UnicornF1 said on 19th October 2009, 13:13
sorry for the multi-posts but my post wasn’t appearing for a mysterious reason. Then suddenly, all of my attempts appeared along with the final!
The only thing I changed at the final attempt was to put an “enter” after the bquote bbcode…
Sorry for that, once more
UnicornF1 said on 19th October 2009, 13:16
for once more I can’t see the previous “sorry” message I wrote…
Keith, something strange is going on…
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 19th October 2009, 23:31
The site’s been a bit slow because of the huge amount of traffic today and yesterday. There has been a note next to the comment form saying they may take a while to update (it’s gone now though).