THE Honda Racing F1 Team ended its 2006 season in style as Jenson Button secured another podium finish for the team in a breathtaking title decider at the Interlagos circuit in Brazil.

He took the chequered flag in third position after a brilliant drive from 14th on the grid, while local hero Rubens Barrichello crossed the line in seventh place.

The race won by Ferrari's Felipe Massa, saw Fernando Alonso retain the driver's world title and his Enstone-based Renault F1 team hold on to the constructors' title, as Michael Schumacher fought back from an early-race puncture to finish fourth in his final Grand Prix.

The result brings the Honda Racing F1 Team's tally to 21 points finishes, with Button securing his seventh consecutive points haul, to make a total of 11 from the 18 races.

Barrichello brought home points on ten occasions from the 18 opportunities. They end the drivers' championship sixth and seventh, whilst the team takes a strong fourth position in the constructors' championship, 50 points clear of BMW Sauber.

Button said: "I'm thrilled to end the season on the podium, especially coming through from 14th on the grid yet again and after the problem we experienced on Saturday.

"This result came out of a genuine fight, with the car showing great competitiveness."

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS: Drivers: 1 Fernando Alonso (Spa) Renault 134pts, 2 Michael Schumacher (Ger) Ferrari 121, 3 Felipe Massa (Bra) Ferrari 80, 4 Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Renault 72, 5 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) McLaren 65, 6 Jenson Button (Gbr) Honda 56, 7 Rubens Barrichello (Bra) Honda 30, 8 Juan Montoya (Col) McLaren 26, 9 Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber 23, 10 Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Toyota 20, 11 Pedro de la Rosa (Spa) McLaren 19, 12 Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota 15, 13 David Coulthard (Gbr) Red Bull 14, 14 Jacques Villeneuve (Can) BMW Sauber 7, 15 Mark Webber (Aus) Williams 7, 16 Robert Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber 6, 17 Nico Rosberg (Ger) Williams 4, 18 Christian Klien (Aut) Red Bull 2, 19 Vitantonio Liuzzi (Ita) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1 Constructors: 1 Renault 206pts, 2 Ferrari 201, 3 McLaren 110, 4 Honda 86, 5 BMW Sauber 36, 6 Toyota 35, 7 Red Bull 16, 8 Williams 11, 9 Scuderia Toro Rosso 1.