Button won Japanese Grand Prix while Vettel became Youngest Double World Champion

McLaren’s Jenson Button won the Japanese Grand Prix in his adopted homeland, Japan on 9 October 2011. Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel who stood third in the Formula 1 race became the youngest double world champion with four races to spare.

In seven years as a Honda driver, Button had only once managed to win the race at the Honda-owned circuit. In winning, Button denied Vettel his third successive Japanese Grand Prix win. Button’s victory cut Vettel’s overall lead over the Briton to 114 points, an insurmountable advantage with a total of 100 left to be won.

Fernando Alonso stood second. Mark Webber was fourth for Red Bull ahead of McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes’ Michael Schumacher, who was sixth.

Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel made his way to the record books as Formula One’s youngest double world champion after finishing third in a Japanese Grand Prix. Vettel had needed only a point at Suzuka to clinch his second successive crown. He was only the ninth driver to take back-to-back championships and on the podium for the 14th time in 15 races in 2011.

Ferrari’s Fernando Alons had become the previous youngest double world champion when he had won for Renault aged 25 in 2006.