10/11/2011 02:40 pm

Button makes statement as Vettel seals deal

All eyes were on Sebastian Vettel this Sunday in Tokyo at the 2011 Formula 1™ Japanese Grand Prix.

Although the Red Bull Racing driver only managed third place, the 24-year-young German became the youngest F1 driver in history to win back-to-back championships. And he’s the first pilot since Michael Schumacher in 2004 to win the coveted Driver’s Championship trophy with four races to spare.

Yet it was McLaren-Mercedes driver Jenson Button who made a statement on Tokyo’s much-loved Suzuka circuit on Sunday, setting the tone for the twilight of the 2011 season and possibly for the championship challenge in 2012. The Brit not only led most of the race and topped the podium – his third win of the season – he also grabbed his third Fastest Lap on the year, the second in so many races. And he did so when it counted: as Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso was breathing down his neck in the final laps.

It was the second time in the race Button seemed to all but wave off any attack and take command of the track. Between laps 28 and 32, the McLaren driver ran a number of fastest laps to widen his lead over Vettel. Later when Alonso put the pressure on and closed to within one second, Button literally put his foot down and ran the race’s Fastest Lap in lap 52 (1:36.568) before taking the checkered flag just one lap later.

The 2009 champion now joins his McLaren-teammate Lewis Hamilton with three Fastest Laps apiece, two behind Vettel’s teammate Mark Webber. Team McLaren-Mercedes has come on strong in the second half of the season, recording four Fastest Laps in six races. With the spotlight off Vettel and eyes now looking out to the 2012 season, perhaps one of the British McLaren duo will leave their mark on the 2011 season, and that mark will be called the 2011 DHL Fastest Lap Award.

See all the DHL Fastest Lap results from the 2011 season here.

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