'I am the Champion,' Jenson Button Says After the Brazilian Grand Prix

Reuters Created: Oct 18, 2009 Last Updated: Oct 18, 2009
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Jenson Button
British Formula One driver Jenson Button celebrates his 2009 F1 World title after Brazil's Formula 1 GP, on October 18, 2009.He finished fifth and Australia's Red Bull driver Mark Webber won the race. (Mauricio Lima/AFP/Getty Images)
SAO PAULO, Oct 18—With a British flag proclaiming 'Great Button' draped over his shoulders, Jenson Button stood and repeated over and over again four of the sweetest-sounding words in the English language.

"I am the champion," the 29-year-old said, shouted and roared to anyone in earshot after making a lifelong dream come true in the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday with a fifth-place finish which he said felt like a victory.

"I am the world champion, baby, and I'm not going to stop saying it.

"This race for me was the best race I've driven in my life, probably. I know it's because of the emotion involved with it but also because I knew I had to make it happen."

A day after the disappointment of qualifying 14th in a rain-delayed qualifying, Button was reduced to tears of joy and utter relief at the circuit where he scored his very first point as a 20-year-old.

He bawled "We Are The Champions" over the team radio on his slowing down lap, leaped from the car after parking up and sprinted to the pits to hug his father John, sobbing like a child, and embrace mechanics.

"I couldn't get him off me," said Button senior, clutching a champagne flute and gently swaying like a man in dreamland with a look of disbelief across his craggy features.

"He was like a limpet, crying his eyes out. He was just saying 'I am world champion ' -- well, screaming it -- non stop."

Sleepless Nights

The sleepless nights and inner torment, with critics accusing him of allowing the crown to slip through his fingers while others questioned whether he would be a worthy champion, were swept away.

"It's more than relief. You don't win the world championship and feel relief," said the Briton, who less than a year ago had wondered whether he had a future in Formula One after Brawn's predecessors Honda pulled out.

"This is the end of the fairytale," he said.

"All of the bad memories and the good memories go through your mind, not just from this year but from previous years in the sport.

"The last few races were pretty stressful for me."

"Also I read too many papers and magazines, so there were some negative comments...there's been a lot of good stuff written about us this year as well and so there should be. This team has done staggeringly well.

Jenson Button of Great Britain  Formula One
Jenson Button of Great Britain and Brawn GP drives on his way to winning the F1 World Drivers Championship during the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix at the Interlagos Circuit on October 18, 2009 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Clive Mason/Getty Images)

"I don't think there has been a season like it in Formula One. So it's great to sit here as world champion and I personally think I thoroughly deserve it. I am it. I am a world champion. I'm going to keep saying that all night."

Physically Sick

Button revealed that he had felt physically sick after Saturday's setback, sitting in his room as closest rival and team mate Rubens Barrichello took pole position for his home grand prix.

Struggling to score points in recent races, Button recognized it had been a stressful end to the season.

His girlfriend, Argentine-Japanese lingerie model Jessica Michibata, had not accompanied him to Brazil and he had to face his demons alone.

"Without Jessica here, I was all on my own," he grinned. "I did actually ask the boys if they would come and stay in my room last night because I knew it was going to be a tough night's sleep, but they didn't.

"It was weird, because I dreamed on Friday night that qualifying was going to be terrible and it was. I also dreamed that night that I was going to win the world championship this weekend, so maybe there is some truth in dreams.

"I have come out on top. I am world champion. What other words can I use?," he said. "It's getting boring. No it's not...I am going to enjoy this moment like you would not believe.

"You can do that when you've won, can't you?"

 



 
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