Button is relishing final showdown with Hamilton in Brazil

After Sebastian Vettel’s lap-one retirement with suspension damage sustained following a bizarre puncture just two corners into the race, Hamilton conjured what he felt was one of his best drives.

Seemingly freed from the personal mental anguish that has troubled him in recent months, Hamilton chalked up his third win this year.

It was not enough for Hamilton, though, to prevent Jenson Button from becoming his first team-mate to beat him over the course of a campaign since he started single-seater racing in 2001.

However, both drivers have always stated race victories are of more importance on the basis of what it does for their self-confidence and the morale of the team.

Now they are both tied on three wins apiece, Whitmarsh is expecting a battle royal at Interlagos in Sao Paulo when the curtain finally comes down on the Formula 1 campaign.

Whitmarsh said: “We’ll remember that win for the Lewis we know and love, and I think he really enjoyed it.

“I think it was an important one for him. He was strong all weekend after coming into it in a good frame of mind, focused. It was for Lewis to reset where he is, and where he is at in his head.

“It means both drivers have three great wins apiece this year, and I’m sure both of them think they can make it four by the end of the season.

“I know them both well enough that they will want to be the driver who comes out of the year with four wins. They’ll both fancy their chances of winning in Brazil.”

For Button, who was third at the Yas Marina Circuit for his seventh podium in his last eight races, the 31-year-old at least conceded to some degree of satisfaction in beating Hamilton this season.

“You have to do everything to be happy with your season,” said Button.

“You have to win races, you have to get more points than your team-mate and consistently do a good job on race weekends.

“You need a bit of everything, and it’s nice finishing in front of your team-mate over a season.

“It’s not easy when your team-mate is Lewis Hamilton because he is extremely quick, but we’ve had some good battles this year.

“For me, I take away the battles, the fights we’ve had – and we’ve actually only touched once – and the competitiveness between us.”

As for Brazil, Button added: “I’d love to fight for the win there. Obviously Lewis will feel the same, and we’ll have a good scrap.”