Today saw the crowning of a most deserving world champion, as Britain's Jenson Button joined the immortal ranks of Formula 1 world champions following his stellar drive in the 2009 Brazilian Grand Prix.
After a torrid start to the season, in which the driver won six of the first seven races for a team which rose from the ashes of the folded Honda GP outfit, Jens cooled considerably in the season's second half. Since his June victory at the Turkish Grand Prix, Button found himself generally outperformed by his Brawn teammate Barrichello, in spite of finishing in the points all but once.
Apparently the British press have piled on the veteran racer since his mid-season "swoon" began, unfairly, I think. Well, they have to say something to sell papers, and the reading public loves nothing more than that brand of iconoclasty. In spite of all the doomsayers, Button put forth a "Champion's drive" today, doggedly climbing to fifth place from a potentially disastrous fourteenth qualifying spot to seal the deal against both insurgent teammate Rubenho, and the Swiss whippersnapper upstart Sebastian Vettel. While the sun has now almost certainly set on Barrichello's career chances for winning the World Title, I predict many crowns will rest upon the young Red Bull driver's brow, and he may even someday live up to his press-bestowed "Schumi Junior" moniker. Time will tell.
In other news, the Brawn GP team clinched the constructor's title in their inaugural season. A nice win for all involved, and a ninth (!) such title for Ross Brawn, the team principle and past architect of the Schumacher world titles and Raikkonen's lone championship. This was his first big win without the looming shadow of the man called Michael, and as such must feel incredibly validating for one of if not the finest men in F1 today, or ever for that matter.
Interlagos has served as a kiln of champions for many of the past several seasons. Now, to the history of that great track and exciting venue, we can mark that it was there that we saw the long-overdue racing beatification of Jenson Button, your 2009 World Champion. Outstanding.
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