The British driver finished Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix in eighth position to see his championship lead stay on a healthy 14 points from Brawn team-mate Rubens Barrichello with just two races remaining.

Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel, the dominant winner of the Suzuka race is 16 points behind.

Button needs to finish in fifth position in Brazil to secure his first title, regardless of what his two rivals do.

The championship leader made it clear, however, that his main goal will be to have an error-free weekend and pick up as many points as possible.

“Well, it is all about mistakes,” Button told reporters after the Suzuka race. “With them they had a very fast car and for whatever reason they did not finish races. It is about finishing races and picking up points.

“We obviously want the best result possible, which is to win races, and we will get as close as we can. But it is about not making mistakes, that is the most important thing.”

He added: “Whatever happens in Brazil I will have a four-point lead. So, I lost a point today which is frustrating because my pace was very good compared to Rubens.

“But I started a long way behind him, so losing one point is not so bad. And it is seven points per race rather than five points per race that he needs to be beat me by. So, it is not a bad position.

“I go to Brazil positive and looking forward to the challenge, because it is going to be a challenge. Sebastian is quick and the Red Bull seems very quick.

“It has still got high-speed corners, and they have showed they are quick on low-speed corners like Singapore, so they will be difficult to beat. And Rubens is always quick there – so it is going to be a challenging weekend, but a fun weekend as well.”

Button’s Brawn team all but secured the constructors’ title at Suzuka, the Brackley team needing just half a point to be out of Red Bull’s reach.

The Briton said the team has every reason to be proud this year.

“I feel it will go our way when we go to Brazil, then everyone should be very, very proud of themselves in this team,” he said. “They have been through a lot. It has been a rollercoaster throughout the season but also last winter, so if it does happen then congratulations to everyone.

“It is going to be a very emotional moment for them, if it happens here. And well done to Ross Brawn – he has achieved a lot in his Formula 1 career but this is very different from being a team owner.

“Also, after such a difficult winter, we didn’t even think we would be on the grid in Australia so to come away with a victory there, and many victories this season, then to come away with the constructors’ title will be a very special feeling. But we will wait and see.”

Source: Autosport.com

Vettel was 25 points behind Jenson Button before the Suzuka race, but left Japan 16 points adrift after dominating the race from start to finish.

It was his third win of the season and the fourth of his career.

The Red Bull driver will now need to outscore Button by seven points at the Brazilian Grand Prix in order to take the title battle down to the wire in Abu Dhabi.

Vettel admitted he approached the Suzuka weekend knowing it was all or nothing, and is still adamant that anything is possible in the two remaining races.

“Well, to be honest I think it was pretty straightforward,” Vettel told BBC Sport. “Win here or that’s it. So you know I mean we took all risk and maximum attack and in the end it all paid off. Obviously now looking at the championship it looks better, still it is a big gap.

“But we have seen, especially two years ago, anything can happen and anything is possible still. I think we have to exactly the same in the next two races and then you know we will see what the others are doing.

“I never stopped [dreaming about the title]. I said before it is a great honour and a great pleasure to drive these cars many times in the season on a Sunday, especially when the weather is nice like today.

“But the most important is the challenge, we want to find out who is the best and the best over a whole season. The ultimate target is to win the championship, that is why I am here and I think why we are doing this.”

Vettel conceded today’s result, with Button down in eighth, was crucial for his title hopes.

“It’s definitely important and in the end every win is nice,” Vettel said. “It was a great day today, a bit tight at the start, not knowing what to expect running down to Turn 1, looking to the right, looking at Jarno, looking to the left, in the mirror seeing Lewis.

“I was kind of in the middle, approaching Turn 1 and quickly I realised that Jarno was about the same, and obviously Lewis at some point starts pressing his button. I had the inside, and therefore the advantage for the first two corners but still he came quite close on the outside.

“After Turn 2 I realised I was ahead and then head down and try to push every single lap to increase the gap, and try to control the race from then onwards.”

Source: Autosport.com

Kimi Raikkonen believes it will be hard for Ferrari to keep third place in the championship despite his fourth position at the Japanese Grand Prix.

The Finn enjoyed a strong race to finish behind McLaren rival Lewis Hamilton, whose team is now just two points behind Ferrari with two races left.

Raikkonen admitted he was comfortable with his car today, but claimed it was lacking speed to beat Hamilton.

“Today the car wasn’t bad, but it was not quick enough to fight for the podium,” said Raikkonen. “This fourth place is useful in terms of keeping the team in third place in the Constructors’ Championship, but it will be hard to hang onto it over the final two races. I will definitely do everything I can though.

“I was unable to make up places at the start, especially as the first corner is not that far from the start line and so I was unable to make the most of the KERS.

“In the first stint, when I was on hard tyres, the situation was a bit difficult, but then, once on the softs, things improved considerably.

“I managed to close on Heidfeld and pass him at the pit stop, even though, coming away from my stop, I found myself in traffic behind Button. Then there was not much to fight for to the end of the race.”

Team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella finished outside of the points again, down in 12th position, but the Italian said he was happier with his race pace.

“I had a better feel for the car this weekend and I think the effect from that could be seen, although maybe not in terms of the results,” he said.

“Today, I could run at a good pace, especially in the middle part of the race. It’s a shame I lost a place in my battle with Kovalainen. We managed to get ahead of him in the pit stop, but then he swerved across to the inside at the only point where I left the door slightly open and he leaned on me, managing to get by.

“Towards the end, I had to fight off Sutil who was very quick and was on the soft tyre, while I was on the hard: at this point the KERS came in handy. Now I am looking forward to Interlagos in a more confident mood: it will be important to get a slightly better start position to try and finally make it into the points.”

“Today was not our lucky day,” said the BMW Sauber driver after finishing in sixth position.

“I’m very disappointed with this result. Fourth place was within reach but several things went wrong today, especially at the second pitstop when the rear right wheel nut got stuck. But certainly I don’t want to complain.

“These things can happen and normally we have very good pitstops. That was when I lost a position to Kimi, and I rejoined the race just behind him. When the safety car came out I lost another position to Nico, who was lucky to refuel while the safety car was out.”

Heidfeld’s team-mate Robert Kubica also felt luck had not been on his side over the weekend, the Pole coming home in ninth position.

“The entire weekend was unlucky for me,” he said. “Yesterday I wasn’t able to show my good pace due to the red and yellow flags. Today I was stuck in traffic a couple of times. Furthermore I lost much time at the beginning of the race with a heavy and understeering car.

“Once the car was lighter and I got into my rhythm I was quite quick. I was then very unlucky with my first pit stop, as after the stop both Kimi and Nick were in front of me. That cost me time.

“Also after the safety car period I was in traffic. I was stuck behind Jenson. I was quicker than him in the corners, but was not able to overtake as we were missing some top speed on the straights.”

Source: Autosport.com

Sutil attempted to pass the Finn for eighth at the chicane on lap 14, but the pair made contact as they approached the second apex, spinning the Force India driver and delaying Kovalainen.

The German blamed Kovalainen for the incident, saying: “I got past him at the chicane but then he cut back across,” but the McLaren driver was adamant that he was not left enough room.

“Adrian tried to make a move, but only went halfway,” said Kovalainen. “So I was able to stay beside him.

“When he tried to turn in, I was already on the kerb and I had no more room to avoid him. So I had to lean on him and that was more a problem for him.”

Kovalainen, whose McLaren future remains uncertain, added that he was pushing hard through the race, and that he was able to use KERS boost to pass the Ferrari of Giancarlo Fisichella as the pair emerged from the pits after their second stops.

“I’m absolutely on the limit of my car and we’re still lacking grip in the high-speed corners, so it’s not possible for me to attack any harder,” said Kovalainen. “I pushed from the start to the finish.

“My second pitstop wasn’t fantastic as we had a problem with the right front wheel, so Giancarlo was able to get out right in front of me. I was able to release the pitlane speed-limiter earlier and immediately got on KERS. He gave me some room, so it was quite an easy move – nothing too dramatic.”

Source: Autosport.com