Barrichello aiming for home victory

The Brazilian finished seventh in the Japanese Grand Prix, cutting team-mate Jenson Button's points lead to 14 points, and needs a big result at Interlagos to take the title fight down to the wire in November's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

"It's my home race so I'll be going happily there to win the race and hopefully keep my chances alive," said Barrichello, who is hoping that the handling of his Brawn will be more to his liking in Brazil, in an interview with BBC Sport.

"I wasn't happy with the set-up for the whole race. I was struggling big time with the tyres on the car. Kimi Raikkonen just gained a hell of a lot on me.

"When we had the same tyres on to begin with, I felt OK, but I couldn't get it back. I would have finished sixth if it wasn't for the safety car, but that was the best I could have aimed for."

Despite making up only one point on Button, leaving his team-mate needing only a third place in Brazil to seal the title, Barrichello said that he was happy with the result.

"I did what I had to do," said Barrichello. "It was a superb lap in Q3 to stay in front of him and to finish the weekend in front of him because, at the end of the day, when you are not happy with the car you struggle. And when you struggle you don't go fast."