Championship situation (updated now with just 2 races remaining)

Formula One news: Championship situation: 3 races remaining - GPUpdate.net Formula One

With only three Grands Prix left to run in the 2009 season, here is a glace of the championship situation ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix. Jenson Button is able to clinch the title this weekend, providing he finishes in the top four and relative to his team-mate's place. Sebastian Vettel must finish on the podium to stay in the running.

How Jenson Button can claim the title at Suzuka:

- by finishing 1st with Barrichello 4th or lower
- by finishing 2nd with Barrichello 6th or lower
- by finishing 3rd with Barrichello 8th or lower
- by finishing 4th with Barrichello 9th or lower


How Sebastian Vettel can stay in the hunt at Suzuka:

- by finishing 1st with Button 5th or lower
- by finishing 2nd with Button 7th or lower
- by finishing 3rd with Button 9th or lower


Constructors' Championship:

- Brawn GP, which currently holds a 42.5-point lead over Red Bull Racing, can win the title at Suzuka by leaving with a lead of 36 points or more

- Therefore, if no Brawn scores, a Red Bull driver must finish in at least 2nd place

Button will need a miracle to settle the championship in Suzuka. I believe Vettel's equations are more realistic, considering the starting grid at the Japanese GP.

woot... this worked out really well for red bull.. game on!

The championship status after the Suzuka GP:

Sebastian Vettel's superb drive to victory in Japan on Sunday confirms that the German remains with a shout of stealing the 2009 title from the Brawn GP drivers; the Brackley team remains strong favourite for Constructors' honours, however, with only two races remaining this season.

With 15 Grands Prix down, just a couple remain with Brazil now under a fortnight away and Abu Dhabi's first appearance coming two weeks later. Jenson Button's lead was reduced by 1 point at Suzuka although winner Vettel took 9 out of the Englishman to move to within 2 points of 2nd placed Rubens Barrichello.

Although Button, Barrichello and Vettel can all still clinch their first world crown, Button is the only man who is able to do so in Brazil. Red Bull can now only win the Constructors' title by half a point and must finish 1-2 in both races - with both Brawns out of the top eight on the two occasions - to do so.

With Button able to sweep the title up without evening finishing at Interlagos, Barrichello must finish in the top 4 places and Vettel in the top 2 in order to have a chance of keeping their championship aspirations alive; however, they do not share Button's luxury of being able to win the crown regardless of rivals' finishing positions, as a podium result for the Englishman would confirm the top spot for 2009.


How Jenson Button can win the Drivers' title in Brazil:

- by finishing 1st
- by finishing 2nd
- by finishing 3rd
- by finishing 4th with Barrichello 2nd or lower
- by finishing 5th with Barrichello 2nd or lower
- by finishing 6th with Barrichello 3rd or lower and Vettel 2nd or lower
- by finishing 7th with Barrichello 3rd or lower and Vettel 2nd or lower
- by finishing 8th with Barrichello 4th or lower and Vettel 3rd or lower
- by not scoring with Barrichello 5th or lower and Vettel 3rd or lower


How Red Bull Racing can beat Brawn to the Constructors' title: (which looks impossible, BTW)

- by finishing 1st and 2nd in Brazil and Abu Dhabi with the Brawn cars not scoring in either race

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2009/...-race-2-to-go/

Vettel needs more miracles to be able to beat Button to the honour, but chances are very slim. Button, on the other hand, needs to improve his performance and try and finish the issue at Brazil itself.

its gonna be one helluva fight