Button: Being champion is 'amazing'

The Briton was crowned the 2009 Formula 1 world champion after finishing fifth in the Brazilian Grand Prix and helped his Brawn team to a title double as it wrapped up the constructors' championship.

"It's really amazing," he said. "After the last few races I've had this makes up for it. It was a totally awesome race, I'm world champion!

"It's 21 years since I first raced a kart. I love winning, I never expected to be world champion in F1, because you think racing drivers in F1 are different from you. But I did it today."

Brawn clinched the teams' title thanks to Button and Rubens Barrichello's combined score, despite Red Bull's Mark Webber winning the grand prix and Sebastian Vettel finishing fourth.

Button produced a combative performance to bring himself into contention having started 14th on the grid at Interlagos.

He made the most of an early safety car, having fought his way up to ninth by the end of lap one. He then produced several overtaking manouvres and stayed out of trouble to move up to fifth position and seal a long-awaited world title victory.

The 29 year-old scored a crucial four points, which put him 15 clear of his nearest rival Sebastian Vettel, and therefore out of reach with one race still to go in Abu Dhabi, in two weeks time.

Button's other title rival Barrichello could only finish eighth after suffering a late race puncture.