Button eager to secure future after title glory

Button would still have won the World Championship under the rule change (GETTY IMAGES)

Jenson Button will now look to thrash out his future with Brawn GP after becoming Formula One world champion.

The 29-year-old is adamant he wants to stay with the team that has helped him achieve his lifetime ambition, but there are apparently doubts.

Button's fifth place in yesterday's dramatic Brazilian Grand Prix guaranteed him the title with a race to spare as rivals Sebastian Vettel and Rubens Barrichello could only finish fourth and eighth.

Now he can concentrate on cementing his position within a team that also collected the constructors' crown just over 10 months after it appeared they were on motor sport's scrapheap.

It remains a question of money with Button understood to be looking to return to the £8million-a-year salary he previously enjoyed with Honda before taking a £5million pay cut for this season to drive for Brawn.

"I want to be here next year and I want to be with a team that can challenge for victories like this season," remarked Button.

"Brawn can do that. These guys are not one-hit wonders. We've some sensationally talented people in our team.

"We might not be big like other teams, but that will be a benefit to us next season as the teams have to get smaller and we have the right amount of people for next year.

"We are in a great position, we have worked on this year's car as much as possible, but we have also worked on next year's car. This isn't it for Brawn GP.

"But I haven't talked to the team seriously about anything for next year. We wanted to get this out of the way.

"I will sit down and discuss it when I've got over my hangover!"

Button was meant to be on a flight out of Sao Paulo last night, but instead will leave today as a gracious Barrichello allowed him use of his private plane so the 29-year-old could party.

He deserved to after a remarkable season and a drive for 71 laps around Interlagos that was worthy of his newly-acclaimed status.

"It's great to be sat here as world champion and I personally think I thoroughly deserve it," added Button.

"I've been the best over 16 races, and that's what world titles are all about.

"I am it. I am a world champion, and I'm going to keep saying it, especially after a race that, for me, was the best I've driven in my life.

"I know it's because of the emotion involved with it, but also I knew I had to make it happen, and that's why I'm sat here as the world champion.

"I'm going to enjoy this moment like you would not believe - and you can do that when you've won."

An accident involving Jarno Trulli, Adrian Sutil and Fernando Alonso helped elevate him from 14th on the gird to ninth by the end of the first lap.

Fortunate, maybe, but Button also produced outstanding manoeuvres to overtake Romain Grosjean, Kazuki Nakajima, Kamui Kobayashi and Sebastien Buemi, stamping his mark when he needed to most.

As Barrichello floundered after starting from pole, Button kept his nerve before allowing his emotions to get the better of him after sealing the title.

On seeing dad John, who has missed just one of his son's 171 grands prix, he openly wept in his arms.

"When I saw him I couldn't get him off me. He was like a limpet," said Button Snr.

"He was crying his eyes out and saying 'I'm world champion'. That's all he was saying. No other words. We were like babies."

Button's title triumph largely overshadowed Mark Webber's second victory of the season for Red Bull, with BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica finishing runner up.

Lewis Hamilton, who now relinquishes his crown, at least produced an outgoing world champion's drive to finish third from 17th on the grid.