European Grand Prix 2009 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Rubens Barrichello delivered a brilliant victory at the European Grand Prix in Valencia, passing pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton at the start and controlling the race to reignite his own championship challenge while teammate Jenson Button suffered a disaster, crashing out and scoring no points. The Brazilian's dominant performance - his first win since 2004 - came at the perfect moment for his title aspirations, cutting Button's lead to just seven points and setting up a tense intra-team battle for the final races.

Starting from second on the grid behind Hamilton's pole position, Barrichello executed a perfect launch and seized the lead into Turn 1, immediately pulling away from the field on Valencia's challenging street circuit. The 37-year-old Brazilian drove with the confidence and precision of his early career, managing his pace expertly while navigating the concrete-lined barriers that offered no margin for error. His victory was deeply emotional - after years as a number two driver at Ferrari, Barrichello was finally fighting for a world championship in his own right, and the win proved he still possessed the speed and racecraft to challenge for the title.

Hamilton drove a strong race to finish second after losing the lead at the start, with Räikkönen completing the podium for Ferrari in third. The real drama came with Button's retirement following a collision, marking a disastrous swing in the championship battle. Barrichello's victory combined with Button's DNF meant the teammates were now separated by just seven points with six races remaining - the championship was wide open. Vettel finished fourth for Red Bull, remaining in mathematical contention but falling further behind the Brawn drivers. The European GP transformed the title fight from Button's seemingly inevitable coronation into a genuine three-way battle, with Barrichello emerging as a serious threat to his teammate's dreams.