Button can mark Brawn double

A year on from his Interlagos agony, Felipe Massa may find himself bringing down the chequered flag on more Brazilian heartbreak and another British Formula One champion on Sunday.

Brawn's Jenson Button needs only finish third in the Brazilian Grand Prix to take the title and end the hopes of team-mate Rubens Barrichello and Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel with a race to spare.

He may not even need any points if the others slip up. Button is 14 clear of Brazilian Barrichello, the oldest man on the starting grid at 37, and 16 ahead of third-placed German Vettel.

Brawn, who must carefully manage the tension between their drivers, will become the first team to take the constructors' title in their first full season - unless the unthinkable happens and they draw a blank while Red Bull finish one-two.

Ferrari's Massa, who will not be racing due to the serious head injuries he suffered in Hungary in July, won his home grand prix last year but lost out on the title by a single point to Lewis Hamilton.

The Brazilian, who had the crown in his grasp until Hamilton seized the fifth place he needed on the last corner of the last lap, has been invited to wave the chequered flag this time.

He will be hoping it is Barrichello he welcomes first but a victory for the only Brazilian in the race, following Massa's injury and the departure under a cloud of Nelson Piquet junior, may be bittersweet.

Button knows only too well that Brazil has a reputation for shocks and surprises, with torrential rain occasionally thrown in, and a fanatical home crowd who will hardly make him welcome.

Hamilton could be his secret weapon. The Briton is eager to win in Brazil after his past troubles there and a victory by the 24-year-old, who won in Hungary and Singapore, would make Button's task easier by taking points from rivals who need to score big.

"Travelling to Sao Paulo this year with our focus solely on achieving the very best result will allow us to attack the race weekend without any additional considerations," said McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh.

Button toiled to eighth place 12 days ago in a Japanese Grand Prix dominated by Vettel and he recognised he still had a fight on his hands.

"Sebastian is quick and the Red Bull seems very quick... so they will be difficult to beat. And Rubens is always quick there so it is going to be a challenging weekend, but a fun weekend as well," he said.

Barrichello must go all out for victory. He has never won at Interlagos but he needs to now more than ever: "I've got to win, win big time," he said.

Statbox: Permutations

• Brawn's Jenson Button will win the Formula One title with one race to spare this weekend if he finishes third or higher, regardless of what his rivals do.

• The Briton is 14 points clear of team-mate Rubens Barrichello and 16 ahead of Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel. He also has an unmatchable six wins this season.

• Button will also be champion if:

- he finishes ahead of both rivals;
- he finishes at least fifth if Vettel wins;
- he finishes at least seventh and Vettel is no higher than second with Barrichello third or lower;
- he finishes eighth and Barrichello is no higher than fourth while Vettel is out of the top two; or
- he fails to score a point while Barrichello is no higher than fifth and Vettel third or lower.

• The last time Britain had back-to-back drivers' champions was in 1968 and 1969 with Graham Hill followed by Jackie Stewart. Lewis Hamilton won last year's title.

• Button would be Britain's 10th champion.

Current standings

Drivers: 1. Button 85; 2. Barrichello 71; 3. Vettel 69; 4. Webber 51.5; 5. Raikkonen 45; 6. Hamilton 43; 7. Rosberg 34.5; 8. Trulli 30.5; 9. Alonso 26; 10. Glock 24; 11. Massa 22; 12. Kovalainen 22; 13. Heidfeld 15; 14. Kubica 9; 15. Fisichella 8; 16. Sutil 5; 17. Buemi 3; 18. Bourdais 2.

Constructors: 1. Brawn 156; 2. Red Bull 120.5; 3. Ferrari 67; 4. McLaren 65; 5. Toyota 54.5; 6. Williams 34.5; 7. Renault 26; 8. BMW Sauber 24; 9. Force India 13; 10. Toro Rosso 5.