Race Notes - Mark Webber wins Brazilian GP

Mark Webber won the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos today in his Red Bull-Renault, followed by his team mate Sebastian Vettel, suffering a gearbox problem in second place, 16.9 seconds behind. Jenson Button in the McLaren-Mercedes finished third, 27.6 seconds behind.

The win is Webber's first of the season (his first since Hungary last season), his seventh career victory. Red Bull wins it's 12th win of 2011. Button's podium finish clinches second place in the Drivers Championship for the British driver.

Fernando Alonso (35.0s) finished in his Ferrari in fourth place, followed by his team mate Felipe Massa (66.7s) in fifth, Adrian Sutil (1 lap) in the Force India-Mercedes was sixth, Nico Rosberg in the Mercedes GP was seventh, Paul di Resta in the second Force India was eighth, Kamui Kobayashi in the Sauber-Ferrari was ninth, and Vitaly Petrov in the Renault takes the final point for tenth place.

Before the race, there were threats of rain showers in the area.

Vettel, starts from pole for the record-setting 15th time this season. With a choice of soft and medium compound tyres on offer, all drivers starting on soft tyres with most drivers expecting to make either two or three stops this afternoon.

At the start Vettel takes the lead from the start from Webber and Button, Alonso taking Lewis Hamilton at the first corner to take fourth, followed by Massa, Rosberg, Sutil, Bruno Senna and Di Resta.

On lap 2 Schumacher takes tenth place from Di Resta, Barrichello gets a slow start and falls from 12th on the grid back to 19th on the first lap.

On lap 3 Vettel pulls out to a 2.2 second lead.

On lap 10 Michael Schumacher tries to pass Senna on the outside of the first corner, and Senna's front wing makes contact with Schumacher's rear tyre - Schumacher limps back around the circuit with a punctured left rear tyre. Senna has minor damage to his front wing.

At lap 10 Vettel leads Webber by 3.8 seconds, followed by Button (8.9s), Alonso (9.5s), Hamilton (10.3s), Massa (12.9s), Rosberg (17.9s), Sutil (18.5s), Senna (24.0s) and Di Resta (24.5s) in tenth place.

On lap 11 Alonso sweeps past Button on the outside of turn six to take third place.

On lap 13 Senna pits for tyres.

On lap 15 Red Bull tells Vettel that he has a gearbox problem and tell him to short-shift in second gear.

On lap 15 Sutil pits for new soft tyres and rejoins in 14th. Button pits the next lap from fourth for soft tyres, and rejoins seventh.

On lap 17 Alonso, Hamilton, Rosberg and Rubens Barrichello pit. Red Bull now tells Vettel to short shift in second and third gear, perhaps he is suffering from overheating problems.

On lap 18 Vettel pits from the lead for another set of soft tyres, rejoining in third place. Webber pits from the lead the next lap rejoining behind Vettel. Massa, yet to stop, leads the Brazilian GP.

On lap 19 Senna serves a drive-through penalty for his collision with Schumacher.

On lap 20 Sutil and Sergio Perez battle over eighth place.

At lap 20, Massa leads Vettel by 0.2 seconds, followed by Webber (3.5s), Alonso (7.6s), Button (10.1s), Hamilton (12.1s), Kobayashi (21.2s), Sutil (25.7s), Jaime Alguersuari (29.2s) and Rosberg (29.2s) in tenth place.

On lap 21 Vettel catches Massa and passes him from the lead in the DRS zone. Massa pits at the end of the lap and rejoins sixth. Rosberg passes Alguersuari for ninth. Perez, Kobayashi and Alguersuari pit.

Webber set fastest lap at 1m17.6s.

On lap 24 Timo Glock's left rear tyre comes off as he exits the pitlane, and he retires the car. Vettel sets fastest lap at 1m17.3s.

On lap 26 Red Bull now tells Vettel that he has a serious gearbox issue, and repeats that he needs to short shift in second and third gear. Webber sets fastest lap at 1,17.0s. Pastor Maldonado passes Senna for 16th place, a piece of his front wing flies off the car.

On lap 28 Red Bull tell Vettel to short shift in ever gear. Maldonado spins and is stranded on the side of the track. Webber closes on Vettel.

On lap 30 Webber sweeps past Vettel to take the lead. Senna pits for tyres.

At lap 30 Webber leads Vettel by 1.2 seconds, followed by Alonso (9.0s), Button (12.9s), Hamilton (14.9s), Massa (27.7s), Sutil (31.4s), Rosberg (37.3s), Di Resta (43.4s) and Petrov (46.7s) in tenth place.

On lap 31 Petrov pits.

On lap 32 Button pits and switches to the harder tyres and rejoins in sixth. Sutil pits from seventh.

On lap 34 Webber sets fastest lap at 1m16.9s. Hamilton pits from fourth place and takes another set of soft tyres. Schumacher pits from 16th.

On lap 36 Alonso pits for a second time from third place for another set of soft tyres. Perez spins at turn eight and continues. Teams looking at threats of rain showers in the area. Senna has lost fourth gear in his Renault.

On lap 37 McLaren tells Hamilton that he has a gearbox problem as well, but they say there is nothing he can do about it.

On lap 39 Webber pits from the lead and takes on another set of soft tyres, and rejoins in second place. Button passes Massa for fourth place in the DRS zone. Vettel pits at the end of the lap for another set of soft tyres.

At lap 40, Webber leads Vettel by 3.7 seconds, followed by Alonso (10.7s), Button (16.4s), Massa(18.3s), Hamilton (19.1s), Rosberg (34.6s), Sutil (37.2s), Kobayashi (44.6s), and Di Resta (46.7s) in tenth place.

On lap 41 Di Resta pits from ninth. Sauber tells Kobayashi to take care as he closes on Sutil, as they need the points in their battle with Toro Rosso in the championship.

On lap 42 Hamilton closes on Massa in fifth place. Webber sets fastest lap at 1m16.3s.

On lap 43 Rosberg pits from seventh place.

On lap 44 Buemi pits. Kobayashi and Hamilton pit on the next lap, Hamilton takes on the harder tyre.

On lap 45 Vettel sets fastest lap at 1m16.3s.

On lap 46 Massa pits from harder tyres, coming out ahead of Hamilton. Sutil and Petrov pit as well. Red Bull continues to urge Vettel of a serious problem with his gearbox (his first retirement of the year for a mechanical problem).

On lap 47 Hamilton slows on the front straight and pulls off - his gearbox having failed.

On lap 50 Sutil closes on Rosberg in sixth place - the two go side-by-side down to the first corner, but Rosberg holds the position. Alguersuari pits. Webber sets fastest lap at 1m16.1s.

On lap 50 Sutil passes Rosberg down the straight again and makes it stick this time.

At lap 50 Webber leads Vettel by 5.5 seconds, followed by Alonso (16.3s), Button (22.4s), Massa (51.2s), Sutil (68.1s), Rosberg (69.7s), Di Resta (1 lap), Kobayashi and Petrov in tenth.

On lap 52 Button pits from fourth place and takes another set of harder tyres.Schumacher pits as well.

On lap 55 Perez passes Barrichello for 13th place. Alonso pits from third. Barrichello pits. Webber re-sets fastest lap at 1m16.1s.

On lap 56 Button sets fastest lap at 1m15.9s, running 3.8 seconds behind Alonso.

On lap 59 Webber pits from the lead taking on the harder tyre for his final stint, rejoining behind Vettel. Vettel pits the next lap.

On lap 60 Button closes to half a second behind Alonso in third place.

At lap 60 Webber leads Vettel by 8.5 seconds, followed by Alonso (22.1s), Button (22.4s), Massa (43.6s), Sutil (59.8s), Rosberg (76.3s), Di Resta (1 lap), Kobayashi and Petrov in tenth place.

On lap 61 Webber sets fastest lap at 1m15.4s. Button battles with Alonso into the first corner, and takes the position in the DRS zone down the hill. Vettel runs wide in turn five, but continues. Button is 11 seconds behind Vettel.

On lap 65 Vitantonio Liuzzi retires on the side of the track in his HRT. Button closes to 9 seconds behind Vettel.

On lap 69 Alonso complains that his rear wing DRS is not working. Webber sets fastest lap at 1m15.4s.

On the final lap Webber again set fastest lap at 1n15.324s.

Webber takes his first win of the season. Vettel finishes second, and Button finishes third, and then comes to a stop in turn one after the flag - securing his second place in the Drivers Championship.

Kobayashi finishes ninth - securing seventh place in the Constructors' Championship for Sauber, ahead of Toro Rosso. Lotus clinching tenth place.