'It feels great. I have no words. I had a tough night as we did not know about the gear box which had been giving us problems. It was great to have a good start and then the first lap was great. It made my race.

'It was a great decision to be on one stop strategy and that worked for us.'

Button, who is looking to win his first championship, said that he believed it would go down to the wire. 'I would have loved to have won the race, but obviously Rubens made a better job, so he deserves the victory.

'It's good to be fighting him, we have a good relationship and I am sure it will be exciting.'

Barrichello, for whom the victory was his 11th career Grand Prix win, added that he was looking forward to the challenge of taking on Button. 'It is going to be a good and healthy fight.'

Upfront Hamilton was also closing in on Button, but threw it all away on the first lap when he spun and crashed out, allowing Raikkonen to take third place.

Hamilton apologized after the race for the accident. 'Every lap I was pushing, but I think I pushed too hard. I can only say sorry to the team they did a terrific job. The car was good today, but not good enough. If it becomes faster, maybe I wont have to push 130 per cent,' the Briton said.

McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen, Finland was sixth, while Germans Nick Heidfeld in a BWM-Sauber and Vettel took the final points positions with seventh and eighth.

Fisichella, who moved from Force India to Ferrari to replace the unsuccessful Luca Badoer, who drove the Ferrari for two races in lace of the injured Felipe Massa, finished ninth.

He said that driving in a Ferrari was like a dream come true. 'I have no regrets leaving Force India, even if they are doing well. To drive a Ferrari is special.'