JENSON Button recorded his second consecutive victory for Brawn GP at the weather-affected Malaysian Grand Prix today.

The British driver, who had qualified in pole, was leading on the 33rd of 56 scheduled laps when the race was stopped after a thunderstorm broke at the Sepang International Circuit.

With the torrential rain refusing to relent and darkness descending on the track due to the late starting time, organisers eventually decided not to restart the race, awarding half-points to the top eight finishers.

Nick Heidfeld benefited from a decision to run a heavy fuel load as he finished second for BMW Sauber while Timo Glock was third after a strong run in intermediates during a period before the heavens fully opened.

Jarno Trulli was fourth in the second Toyota, with Brawn GP's Rubens Barrichello fifth and Mark Webber sixth for Red Bull.

World champion Lewis Hamilton was seventh for McLaren with Nico Rosberg eighth for Williams.

It was the first race to be red-flagged for rain since the 1991 Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide.

Button said: "My start was pretty bad, I had a lot of oversteer in the car and I don't think I got heat into the rear tyres.

"I went back to fourth, got back up to third and eventually got back to the front and I was pretty happy.

"Our pace was good and then the rain started.

"Choosing the tyres became difficult because when it rains here it usually pours, but it didn't to start with. We went for the full wet tyre and it just destroyed itself.

"I saw Timo flying up behind us on the inter so we put the inter on. Just as he came by I saw his tyres were bald. It was raining out the back so he had to pit.

"I was then able to get one lap in at reasonable pace before I had to pit and was able to get back out in front.

"It was a very interesting race but I still haven't seen a chequered flag without a safety car."