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Lee McKenzie: 2009, Jenson Button

Interlagos 2009 and Jenson Button is leading the driver's world championship.

In another mighty close championship, the points situation meant that if Jenson finished within four points of team-mate Rubens Barrichello he would secure the drivers' title. Seb Vettel needed to finish first or second to have any chance of keeping the title race alive. Brawn GP required just half a point to be declared champions for 2009.

The year Jenson won the world championship was a huge year and it started not at the first race, but at pre season testing. We were there when Jenson jumped out of the all new Brawn GP car with a bit of a secret smile on his face and immediately scurried off, some say to go place a bet on himself, but I'm not so sure on that! But the test certainly went well and he was impressed by the pace of the car.

For someone who up to that point in his career had struggled to get any wins, he went on a most remarkable run. All of a sudden, winning became absolutely second nature to him and we just all believed the championship was between Jenson and his team mate Rubens Barrichello.

We spent lots of time, pretty much camped out with the team during the season and to see how much effort had been put in, by all team members, not least Team Principal Ross Brawn, was just fantastic.

I remember getting to Brazil and the tension was just really high. You've got two guys from the same team both wanting to win each race, wanting the world title. Each time you walked in, there were two little camps, in one area you had Jenson with his Dad and family and then you had Rubens with his little kids, his wife and family.

It was Rubens' home grand prix, so was really special for him and I almost felt guilty if I spoke to one of the families, I had to then go speak with the other as I really felt for both of them.

Qualifying was chaotic. The Interlagos weather playing a huge part, with a massive rain storm intervening. No one had the session they wanted, with Sebastian Vettel not even making it through to Q2. Jenson's start to this crucial weekend wasn't much better, with him down in P14. Rubens on the other hand was top of the timing boards and took pole position.

Now I'm not great at maths and stood in the pit lane, trying to work out all the permutations on the points and standings was challenging! The race started and as it went on, the tension just built up and up.

Towards the end it became clear that Jenson was going to win, I was in the pit lane watching on a tiny monitor, preparing for the post race interviews when the camera shot cut to Ruben's little boy, who was in floods of tears, crying his eyes out and at that moment I felt guilty for being so happy for JB!

Mark Webber actually won the race, with Robert Kubica 2nd and Lewis Hamilton 3rd. Rubens ended up 8th, Sebastian was 4th and Jenson finished 5th, which meant he was world champion.

Because he hadn't finished on the podium, he came down to the interview area really quickly. I was actually watching all the celebrations when I heard a commotion and looked up to see Jenson running towards me, gave me a huge hug and shouted "World Champion Baby!"

I then found his Dad, John and got to interview him before Jenson had seen or spoken to him and was in absolute floods of tears.

The emotions were so similar to the previous year with Hamilton and Massa. It was sport at its most cruel and sport at its absolute best. For a Formula 1 driver, it is not taking part, it is winning that matters and that was summed up perfectly in the emotions of that whole day.

To have successive British F1 champions was absolutely fantastic and to now see them as team mates is a whole different thing.

With Jenson being such a nice guy and having fought for so many years, to finally take the championship, I don't think anyone would have denied him that magical moment.

Lee McKenzie

www.leemckenzie.tv

Twitter @LeeMcKenzieF1

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Memory added on July 4, 2012

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