9. Button takes emotional victory, Vettel claims second consecutive title – 2011
2011 was a memorable race for several reasons. First, Jenson Button claimed a brilliant victory, while Sebastian Vettel did enough to wrap up his second title with a third place finish.
Going into the race, Button was the only driver who could still mathematically win the title, but he needed to win and Vettel not to score for it to go on to Korea. It was highly unlikely, but the McLaren man gave it his all to take what he claimed to be his “best ever” victory. It was a big statement, especially given the way he’d won the Canadian Grand Prix earlier in the year, but in a country he is very fond of, it also wasn’t difficult to see why. He’d held off a charging Fernando Alonso in the closing laps while doing his best to save fuel, with the winning margin being just 1.1 seconds.
Vettel had qualified on pole but struggled with tyre wear in the race, leaving him to have to settle for the last step on the podium. He was only two seconds behind Button at the flag, and had still done enough to take the title in a year he’d been absolutely dominant in, with four races to spare.
The 2011 race was significant for another reason too. It was the first international sport to visit the country following the dreadful tsunami, and subsequent Fukushima nuclear disaster. The ever-passionate Japanese fans let their appreciation known all weekend.
Photo Credit: Red Bull/Mark Thompson/Getty Images
