19/10/2009
NEWS STORY
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In all honesty, we are somewhat 'knackered' - rest assured, there's no other word for it - after the Brazilian Grand Prix, however, we know that many of you will want to comment on the events of the weekend, not least Jenson Button's victory in the Drivers' Championship and Brawn GP's outstanding achievement in winning the Constructors' Championship at the first attempt.
Eager to catch fans while emotions are running high, we'd like to hear your thoughts on the weekend and in particular the conclusion of the two championships.
We'd like your messages for Jenson, Ross, Rubens and everyone else at Brackley... even Mr Fry.
Chris Balfe
Editor
To send your thoughts, click here
Note: Please include your full name - without a full valid name we will not publish your entry.
Peter Mann - Cambridgeshire
Brilliant!
Scott Mckenzie
Fantastic effort by the team all season, well done to Ross, Nick and the others - as Ross said, particularly those who had to leave the Honda team...
Heart goes out to Rubens both for the season but particularly the Brazilian GP.
But what a drive by Jenson, that drive of a champion everyone was after, i think we just saw that... long may it continue! A lot of us long standing fans have been waiting a long, long time for this to come - congratulations!! And thanks i'm financially a little better off!
Luca Biason
Congratulations to Ross and the rest of the team for what is a monumental effort and an astonishing achievement. This does deserve a special mention in the history books.
With regards to Button, I am happy that he won but I am still convinced that he is another one of those drivers who grabbed the title through a series of favourable circumstances rather than sheer overall superiority over his rivals. I don't think Jenson can transcend the limits of his machinery at any given moment, unlike some of his current peers. In a season-long straight fight with the rest of the field, I don't see him coming out on top. But it's still not easy to bring the title home, so full kudos to him for that; moreover, you are the maker of your own misfortunes and luck as well.
Now bring 2010 on as soon as possible, please!
Chris Johnson
Why Does Luca need to make such comments - He says full Kudos but degrades that statement by the rest of his comments. Button has won the world championship and he has fairly and squarely beaten his team mate and the rest of the pack, with a race to go. We can never know how much is "favorable circumstance" and how much is "superiority over rivals" with any champion. Although we do know that some of the past champions have unashamedly cheated their rivals which Jenson has not. So what is the point of saying such negative nonsense.
The only thing to say is FANTASTIC JOB JENSON you make us all proud!
Dave Harley
What a fantastic achievement, with this kind of dedication of a under dog time at the start of the season who knows what next year will bring. Bring on 2010!! My heart does indeed go out for Rubens, there is still life in the old dog yet I just hope he gets a competitive drive for next season.
Steve Britton - Worcester, UK
I think Button is probably one of the most deserving drivers in the field of winning this championship (the other being Rubens Barichello!). He has been in the sport for nearly 10 years, and despite always having an underperforming car, he has successfully managed to outperform teammates, and cars with a better performance than his own, especially in the years of BAR and Honda! I have followed Jenson since he came into this sport and always knew that one day he would be World Champion. I am so glad he has finally achieved this brilliant accolade, and hope that maybe now... someone will give him the credit he deserves for what has been a tale of perseverance and endurance, not to mention tremendous racing skill and professionalism! Congratulations to Jenson and to the whole team at Brawn! What they have managed this year has been nothing short of awesome!
Bryan Emery - Lyndhurst
As a keen Formula 1 fan and one who prides himself on being objectective and non-partisan, I would like to say that after watching Jenson's drive on Sunday, I would make the following comments.
I hope that all of those people who detracted from Jenson's worthiness as a Champion driver during the past six races now appreciate that no-one has overtaken more cars than him this season and that all such manouvres were executed without once causing an accident nor even attracting any cries of 'unfair' or 'dangerous' from those on the losing end of them or from the officials.
I also hope that they appreciate that whilst we have witnessed over the last few years a huge amount of controversial driving tactics, 'dodgy' manouvres and avoidable accidents ; Jenson has never been, nor even accused of being, the instigator of any of them.
His smooth driving style has been well documented, but on Sunday he showed us that a great racing driver can, in desperate circumstances, can make his way through a field of good racing drivers without them even knowing that it's happening until it's happened.
Lawrence Smith - East Sussex
Congratulations - At Last - A big well done to all at Brawn G P
Hats off to Ross for thinking of the members of the team he had to let go at the beginning of the year, when asked for his thoughts straight after the race.
Jenson a brilliant drive to confirm the No 1 position and a true champions drive, great overtaking moves, why not do this a few races back.
I do feel sorry for Rubens, it would have been great to see him win his home race.
They both contributed to the Constructors championship which in the teams first year is fantastic, but how do you follow that - well do it again.
Jon Yard
To be honest the 2009 season has been a let down for me. I had hoped we'd seen the back of the various "gates" that dominated 2008 but sadly that was not the case. I was hoping that the new rules would at least allow more overtaking and yet we've seen little of it this year. KERS was a waste of time and money that only seemed to prevent a non KERS car from passing a KERS car that was actually slower in most parts of the track. The magic button that enabled a normally slower car to keep a faster car back?!
I really found myself wondering why I keep giving up my weekends for F1 but then came Brawn. We British love to support the underdog and Brawn certainly were the underdog! Two drivers that, no matter how good they might be, seemed to have little option but to remain with a team that had no sponsors and a cat in hells chance of getting points. They had Nick Fry for gods sake. they had no hope. But then there was their secret weapon. Ross Brawn had pointed out the diffuser issue prior to the commencement of the 2009 season but no-one listened to him. The car came good right out of the box and, while it slipped back down the field performance wise, as the season went on, the drivers were forced to fight for the championship rather than rely on the performance advantage of the car alone.
What we saw in Sao Paulo was what we should have witnessed throughout 2009 and should see every year. Sao Paulo was full of scraps and scrapes and, while I would have loved to see Rubens take the championship to the last race, Sao Paulo provided the perfect race to settle the championship.
Mark Webber deserved the race win. He drove with guts and determination but Jenson and Brawn deserved the championship. Unfortunately it wasn't Rubens year but he proved that he still has what it takes to race with the best of the rest. I hope he remains at Brawn next year and maybe it'll be his year next year. I sincerely hope he doesn't do what Damon Hill did and take a seat in a mid-field team only to end up trailing the pack after his great performance with Brawn GP
Alvaro Morataya - Canada
Great Job Jenson! and the same to Ruben. In my eyes both of you have shown amazing talent, and I consider both of you world champions. Extremely happy to see Jenson achieve an unquestionable world championship. Dreams come true; not with the most amount money, but heart, vision and passion, all of which Brawn GP have shown. All the best for 2010!
Megan Marie Tirpak
I'll have to admit that in 2000 I was a young enough girl to have my loyalties swayed by the attractiveness of a driver. Today, I am a more judicious. However these nine, somewhat long and sometimes heartbreaking, years later I am neither ashamed or feeling foolish of my dedication.
There are and will be doubters. You will not find one ever in me. Long deserved to the Boy from Frome. Congratulations are not grand enough for the entire Brawn outfit.
John Waggener - USA
Congrats Ross, on being the best cheat ever in the business (sneaking in the double diffusor was the coup de grace) lucky for you, the FIA wanted to mix up the grid... let's see how you do next year!
Dave Sinclair
Who says that F1 cars cannot overtake - Button and Vettel laid that myth to rest very conincingly yesterday. Perhaps there is just not enough incentive and there should be bigger advantages in the points to finish higher up in the results. Maybe we should revert to only the top 6 finishers getting points.
Michel L'Abbe- Canada
Congratulations to all at Brawn GP and to Jenson for winning both titles!
To those who would criticize Jenson's or Brawn GP's victories and championship titles as "hollow" because of the double diffuser issue at the beginning of the season, all I can say is that Brawn GP was smarter and interpreted the rules better to build a better car.
Yes they had an unfair advantage at the start of the season and others had to catch up but that's the way it works in racing. I only wished that Rubens could have taken advantage of this earlier on and made it a fight to the end with Jenson.
Again, congratulations to Jenson and Brawn GP on a job well done!
Richard Williams - Ireland
looking at the season objectively, the brawn car was given a head start by the fia allowing a double diffuser. an item that they had previously said was not permissible under the rules. the major teams were thus disadvantaged considerably, as this diffuser aided downforce and also destroyed the air for following cars. thus, button and barrichello, both of whom had performed miserably in previous years, had a clear advantage for a number of races, until the others caught up. this is the only reason why button eventually won the wdc, so his victory is a hollow victory, and will always be known as such, the true champions this year are vettel and red bull racing.
the future for button is not rosy, as he will not, in future years, be granted such an advantage, and he will fall back to being a midfield player, a position that is more in line with his true ability.
David P Kemmey
Is it too early to start the petition for "Sir" Ross Brawn?
Brian Mancinelli
Waking up early and watching F1 here in the states can be frustrating, at times very boring; but the reason we watch is because it IS a SPORT, and ya never know what's gonna happen.
This year's Brazilian Grand Prix kept me glued to the TV with interest and at times excitement. I am very happy for the Brawn team and have been rooting for Jenson Button and Rubino to do well, although my heart is with Ferrari.
Here's the best part for me... Jenson RACED!!! He made some great moves on Sunday. More of this kind of stuff and who knows.... this thing may just catch on!
Jo Anne Curtin
Jenson, Lewis and a few others really did RACE! And it was very exciting to watch! Felt bad for Rubens, but elated for JENZ.
Tom Black
An edge of the seat nail-biter of a race. Passing as it should be, particularly those executed by the now World Champ. Well done Jenson and Brawn GP!
Carl Rahn Griffith
I must admit that post-qualifying on Saturday I believed Jenson had blown it, and that Rubens would nick the title, cruelly at the very last race after Jenson having led the championship all season.
I am delighted that such fears were proven unfounded.
What a race by Jenson - absolutely superb. A wonderful example for life - not just racing - that one should NEVER give up. Jenson admits to feeling physically sick after his poor qualifying but resolved to put things right in the race. And, boy, didn't he just!? Was a far more impressive way to win the title than - say - had he secured pole and won the race leading/cruising from start to finish. A master craftsman at race-craft - one of the best exponents, ever.
Also, it's wonderful to have a F1 Champion who celebrates in the style of Austin Powers, baby!! Jenson re-discovered his Mojo yesterday; just a shame 'Shaguar' (sic) are no longer in F1 - would be a perfect combination!
And isn't Ross Brawn just the epitome of leadership, in any business/sport? Composed, modest, intelligent, thoughtful. He and Jenson make one proud to be English/British. McLaren, Williams, Lotus, et al are all wonderful examples of British sporting/engineering success, but Brawn embodies something else also. After all their trials and tribulations rising phoenix-like from Honda, they have an added human quality that is very endearing. Even Mr Fry's ubiquitous grin has become more palatable this season. Well, almost. Sorry, Nick!
Bad luck, Rubens, but the right man won and I am delighted to see that you have been so gracious in defeat. Good luck next season at Williams - should be a good swan-song season for you. Best wishes.
Well done, Jenson, Ross and Brawn. Bring on 2010!!
Alan J Cook
Why bother with making such a fuss. F1 isn't worth watching at all these days. The time to cheer will be when Mosely and his cronies (inc. Todt), Ecclestone etc are thrown out of the FIA and motor sport for good. What we should all be doing as fans is NOT watching the sport at all! Just remember that every time you watch a race at the track or on TV we are supporting the existing corrupt regime. Better to stop watching and start writing to everyone you know in the sport to ensure they are thrown out - and ridiculed too - as they have ridiculed so many who did try to stand up to the regime.
Neale Stoffberg
I must say: Congrats to Jensen, Ross and the Brawn team on a magnificent achievement.
I was always a little disappointed by Jensen's early career, too much the playboy and never seemed to have the dedication or drive to be World Champion...but these last few years with Honda...wow, I admired him. He stuck it out, driving a dog, bitched and moaned, but he drove it like he stole it... the commitment to the team could not be doubted. And after a pretty torrid couple of months; he's World Champion.
Ross...wow...how do I feel. I think the man bent every rule he could sideways, stretched the legality of the law to breaking point in his years with Ferrari and Benetton, and basically put Ferrari is the position they are today, a team running rough-shod over the rich history of a fabled franchise, promoting a win-at-all-costs mentality, chasing the almighty $$$$, cashing in on a fantastic heritage and selling out to anyone and anything with a bulging wallet. As professor Mike Lawrence put it, until the arrival of Messrs Todt, Schumacher and Brawn, Ferrari had never been accused of cheating.
But this achievement, this double championship, is a stupendous event, rivalling any rags-to-riches story. Its an incredible story of a team down and out, brought back by one man's vision and work. This is one incredible story. In one year they go from depression to glory, fuelled by Ross, and built on a culture of self-sacrifice and belief. Congratulations Mr Brawn, you deserve this success.
To the team: ENJOY!!! You deserve it...Rubens, my heart goes out to you! I hope to see you there next year!
Jono Kimber - Shrewsbury
Congratulations to JB and RB and RB.
Despite the dodgy colour scheme and a lack of sponsors I actually grew to like the car throughout the season.
I have the pleasure of visiting most of the UK based F1 teams as part of my job and a lot of the banter from a lot of the lads who didn't have JB driving for them was that he'd never be good enough to be world champion. I argued and argued and stuck by my guns and if I can remember who it was I argued with back in the days of Alonso being champ at Renault I'm boing to go back and have a word!
It was a committed decisive drive that won the final points and he's been a keen overtaker all season.
Long may Jenson's success continue. Well done to the whole team, Ross Brawn was also and is a true gentleman in the melting pot of the paddock.
Jenson for Sports Personality of the year (at least he's got one) so that he can pip Lewis and Ross Brawn for Prime Minister!
Richard Frankel
I think the same comment was made of Keke Rosberg (that he was not a worthy or proper champion) in 82 when he won just one race in his championship year.
However through the rose-tinted spectacles of history and hindsight he is (rightly) seen as one of the more 'swashbuckling' and risk taking drivers of his era - I think Jenson will eventually be viewed in the same way.
Well done to all at Brawn - and it has to be said - an awfully bad decision from Honda!
Martin Feldwick
Well done Jenson and Brawn of course. Jenson deserved the title for the six wins he achieved without being told by his boss to raise his game. Rubens raised his game later in the season but real champions dont need to be told. They just get in the car and drive their hearts out. Ross Brawn knows this only too well.
I also look forward to seeing Sebastian Vettel on the podium a lot more. A sure champion any time soon with a decent car. Sadly no-one has told him to curb that sense of humour. He just has to get in a smile even when trying to sneer, snarl, and pout like proper F1 drivers do.
I am still checking every hour to make sure Ferrari didnt protest the entire season and get a pliant FIA to award the championship to them and fine Brawn a million dollars after their works cleaner was seen in a Smiths book store reading a magazine with a Ferrari on the cover, by a Smiths employee who just happened to be a Ferrari fan.
Roll on 2010.
Radu Popescu
Congrats to Ross for being the incredible background, invisible maverick without which no one could win. Indeed, there are those brilliant systems engineers that don't want their names out much, but make the world go round; Ross Brawn is one of them. Besides being a complete engineer, Ross is also a brilliant boss being capable of handling two emotional guys, Jenson and Rubens, and win right out of the gates. Right on!
Graham C. Dugas III - Hilton Head, S.C.
It seems that the camera loving Nick Fry has learned a lesson in humility and Ross has trumped him into the back ground. Bravo! This is a far greater accomplishment than winning the WDC or the WCC.
Martin Brownson - Lamma, Hong Kong
One final thought though - If Button and Vettel can pull off so many great overtaking manoeuvers like that that in one race, why can't everybody try it in every other race?
Is it REALLY the CARS that are preventing overtaking?
John Taylor
An absolutely awesome effort by Jenson, Rubens and everyone in the team. Extremely proud of them all.
What a drive by Jenson! What a race! What a fantastic team effort!
Party hard and enjoy the moment - your fans are.
Greg Cunneen - Tokyo
A 'well deserved' to both Brawn and Button. Period.
Ian Leapingwell
Jens and Ross and all at Brawn, Very very well done indeed. Stupendous effort.
I never had any doubts Jens. You paid your dues, suffered the slings and arrows and you came through and got the job done.
I do have one small complaint. On several occasions in practice you're running 3rd or 5th and I think no probs, then suddenly it all goes tits up in qualifying, ending up 11th or worse and I'm in a complete panic. I'm saying "What are you doing?" Come the race start it's fingers and everything else crossed, all of this accompanied by huge quantities of Marlboro Lights and untold cups of Expresso.
Jens I am trying to give up smoking, so can we get this qualifying sh*t sorted please?
You are the new Formula 1 World Champion, so no more pressure, nothing more to prove.
Go to Abu Dhabi and kick some more ass and show Nico and the rest what they'll be dealing with next year. Enjoy. This is your moment in the sun, hopefully the first of many.
Mark Thurman
Jenson and the whole team make me truly proud to be British! Having been on a factory tour in the BAR F1 days and seen the dedication and hard work first hand I am really pleased that Jenson and the team have pulled off this win.
Nicola Elia - Canada
2009 will go down as the year in F1 that was filled with the most B.S. in recent history. J.B. was a middle of the pack driver up until this year and all of a sudden he is world champion? Ross Brawn took all of his Ferrari knowledge and personal interpretations of the rules to come up with the most controversial car in recent memory. Lookinng forward to 2010 and seenig JB back at the end of the pack where he belongs. Enjoy the 15 minutes mate it's going to be a short ride for you.
Tim Major
Button is a worthy Champion. His Brazil GP performance just shows he is as "racy" as Hamilton. Loved how he was "backing" it in at Interlagos turn 1. Great gutsy overtaking. He is as good as any World Champion Britain has had other than maybe Clark or Stewart.
Ross Brawn has now earnt legendary status in my book.
Ian McKean
I shan't add any more comments regarding Jenson, Rubens and Ross, as they have all been said already, but I would like to echo Dave Sinclair's point that maybe only the top six should score points. The best points system Grand Prix racing ever had was 8 for the winner, then 6, 4, 3, 2, 1, and 1 point for fastest lap. In the days before electronic timing there was some doubt about the point for fastest lap and the system was changed to 9 for the winner, then 6, 4, 3, 2, 1.
After a myriad of other schemes, and with the benefit of electronic timing, we should now go back to 8 for the winner, then 6, 4, 3, 2, 1, and 1 point for fastest lap. Bring back 1957 (or thereabouts)!
Francis Newman - Twyford, UK
It's interesting to read the comments in this thread. The vast majority displaying genuine feelings of deserved congratulation and pleasure for Brawn F1 and Button on a job well done. But a dismaying number showing sour grapes and downright bad feeling. That is very sad.
I have met both Button and Brawn, Ross three times and once for a good long chat. He always came over as a really nice and knowledgeable guy. I once had long chat with Jenson when he was a young lad in the Formula 3 paddock at the British GP in 1999, the year before he started in F1 with Williams. At the time I thought he was an intelligent, articulate and very likeable young man.
Because of those personal contacts I have always taken a more than passing interest in the exploits of the two of them, and frankly this season has reinforced everything I have always thought about both and I think in their different ways they thoroughly deserve their success, along with all the others in the team that worked so hard to produce it.
In any season you can find all sorts of reasons why any one driver or team deserves better or worse, and this season is no different. But I doubt that if you walked the length of the pitlane that you would find anyone who really believed that Brawn and Jenson didn't deserve their success this year. And some so called fans should learn from that.
I am so glad that although he only came in 5th, Jenson won the title with what was probably the drive of his life, and one that had me on the edge of my seat on a number of occasions. Bravo Jenson!
And congrats to all at Brackley.
Ken Peters - Australia
What a combination! Australia had a great day with Mark Webber winning in Brazil, Casey Stoner winning the MotoGP race at Phillip Island and Jason Crump winning the speedway world title. But for all that there are plenty of Jenson Button fans in Oz. and if Mark can't win, then Jenson was the favourite.
I thoroughly enjoy each and every Formula 1 race - they are always interesting. Pity about Brazil being on tele at 3.00am but the rest are at a respectabe hour here.
Nascar still have the best system of keeping track of who is where though.
Graham Godfrey
Sincere congratulations to Ross Brawn, surely now one of the true greats of Grand Prix racing with Chapman, Tyrrell, Cooper Ferrari and so on. No-one should under estimate this man's technical and managerial talent and everyone should recognise what he has achieved over many years.
Wonderful for Button,of course, but also a fantastic season by Barachello proving his talent, I ended up wanting him to win - what price a team with the two great Brazilians (and both true gentlemen, look at their responses to loosing narrowly) - Barachello and Massa side by side!
Tony Copeland - Ware, Hertfordshire
Might be a bit late, but just felt I had to add a comment to this list. First of all congratulations to Jenson on winning the title, a fantastic effort and I just hope he can sort out a contract for 2010. Given the situation he and Rubens were in at the start of the season and the team I think it would be a real shame if the loyalty and committment show on all sides was to be overshadowed by money difficulties.
My main point though is all the negativity that has been thrown at Jeson in the second half of the season. Surely the title is decided over the results of the whole season, and therefore people should reserve judgement until the fat lady has exercised her vocal chords. If the run of results for Button had been reversed I'm sure all those commentators would have been initilally writing Jenson off in the first half of the season, putting in his usual "laid back" performance, and then hailing him as a hero when he fought back to win the last 6 races to grab the drviers title.