Brazil Preview: BMW

Munich/Hinwil, 9th October 2009. The BMW Sauber F1 Team fell short of its potential at the last two Grands Prix in Asia. The Brazilian GP on 18th October takes place on the challenging Interlagos circuit and provides the next – and penultimate – chance to score a result that will do justice to the comprehensive development work carried out on the F1.09.

Interlagos will be a pain in the neck for some drivers, says Jenson Button

Formula One championship leader believes not all drivers are fit enough to tackle the São Paulo circuitJenson Button today claimed that not all Formula One drivers are fit enough to tackle the São Paulo circuit, one of the most physically demanding on the calendar and host to the second-last race of a gruelling season. Interlagos, an undulating and bumpy track and one of just four on the calendar run in an anticlockwise direction, places high demands on a driver's neck muscles."I don't care what drivers say," said Button before taking part in today's practice sessions. "They think they're fit enough, but I don't think we are all fit enough to drive 100% every lap of this race. It's pretty tough physically at Interlagos even though there aren't many high-speed corners."Button's views on fitness were brought into perspective last week when he attended the Iron Man Triathlon in Hawaii. Button, who has taken part in the London triathlon, was impressed by the strength and resilience of elite competitors."Seeing the fitness, and also the pain they put themselves through, was inspirational," said Button. "It was the world championship; all the best people in the world. It was actually quite emotional, seeing what they go through to reach their goals. It's quite different to motor sport. When you get into the training side of the things which you need to do as a racing driver, you push yourself a little bit harder and know you're fit. But, physically, you really feel it round here. It's going to be quite a test for some drivers."Button was proved correct during morning practice when Vitantonio Liuzzi, short on Formula One race experience after being drafted into the Force India team four races ago, could be seen lolling his head to the right in left-hand corners after just 25 laps. Button, meanwhile, was dealing with brake problems and working on the handling of his Brawn while setting the seventh fastest time in the first 90-minute session. His championship rivals, Rubens Barrichello and Sebastian Vettel, were second and third fastest behind the Red Bull of Mark Webber.Morning practice was interrupted by occasional light showers which made the track even more treacherous than usual. Barrichello spun without harm, Sébastien Buemi damaged his Toro Rosso after spinning backwards into a barrier and Renault's Romain Grosjean brought practice to a temporary halt when he ran wide and destroyed a polystyrene marker board. Further rain affected the latter stages of the afternoon session, in which Fernando Alonso set the fastest time ahead of Buemi in his repaired car, with Rubens Barrichello third and Button fifth.If Button finishes on the podium after 71 laps on Sunday, the Brawn driver will become world champion by scoring more points than his team-mate Barrichello and Vettel of Red Bull. Button rejects the claim that he ought to take the title in champion style by winning the race at any price."Winning it like a champion is winning the championship," said Button. "Driving like a champion in this race would be to finish within a certain amount of points of my two title rivals. My intention is to win the race, as it always is. But winning the championship is about getting more points than anyone else over 17 races. Driving like a race winner is winning the race. I've won more races than anyone; no one can win more races this year. But the championship is what it's all about."Button won six of the first seven races but has not reached the top of the podium since the Turkish grand prix on 7 June. "I've not really lost any points since the Monaco grand prix [on 24 May]," he said . "You can say that people have done a better job than me from Monaco to now but when you look at the points, no one has really caught me in the championship and my lead has always been pretty much the same. Speak to any of the champions in the past; it's never a walk in the park unless you've got a much more superior car, like Michael Schumacher's Ferrari in 2004. But if you look back at the start of the season, the Red Bulls were just as competitive as us in Bahrain, Barcelona and a few other races, but we did a better job each time."Jenson ButtonFormula OneMotor sportMaurice Hamiltonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Alonso admits top Interlagos pace not real

Oct.16 (GMM) Fernando Alonso topped Friday afternoon practice at Interlagos, but the Renault driver is not expecting to be a pacesetter in either qualifying or the Brazilian grand prix.

Brawn GP Review Interlagos + Pics

Brawn GP secured the 2009 FIA Formula One Constructors’ Championship at the Brazilian Grand Prix in Interlagos this weekend with Jenson Button driving a superb race from 14th position on the grid to a fifth place finish to wrap up the Drivers’ Championship with one race of the season to go.

Title race likely to go on to Interlagos

Although a mathematical possibility, the winner of the 2009 drivers' world championship is now very unlikely to be decided at the Suzuka circuit on Sunday...  

Brazil Preview: Force India

The Brazilian Grand Prix held from 16 – 18 October will be the penultimate race of the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship. Held at the classic Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo, Brazil’s largest city, it usually produces a charged, scintillating race that can see championship hopes fulfilled or dashed.