VALENCIA, Spain Brawn GPs Rubens Barrichello won the European Grand Prix on Sunday to claim his first Formula One victory in five years.

The 37-year-old Brazilian took advantage of a costly pit-stop error by Lewis Hamiltons McLaren team to record his 10th career win his first since the 2004 Chinese GP and boost his championship hopes.

Hamilton finished second ahead of Ferraris Kimi Raikkonen after having started the Valencia street race from pole position.

Jenson Button finished seventh to have his championship lead cut to 18 points over teammate Barrichello. Red Bulls Mark Webber finished ninth and is 20.5 points behind Button.

Its going to be a good fight. But at least its going to be a fair fight between ourselves, said Barrichello, who danced on the podium after pumping his fists wildly through the victory lap.

Luca Badoer, who is filling in for injured Ferrari driver Felipe Massa, finished 17th after starting last.

Hamilton, who also finished second at last years race, looked set for a second straight win after having taken the Hungarian GP. But McLarens mechanics fumbled when removing tire warmers during his final pit stop, which lasted 13.4 seconds, and the chance was gone.

This is very, very rare that this happens, said Hamilton, who was called in with his fuel load running out before the team reconsidered too late. The call was a marginal one, the team was pushing the envelope and it came just a little too late for me and the mechanics, who werent perfectly prepared.

Barrichello moved clear in front after his second stop and held on to win by 2.3 seconds.

I was pushing like hell. A hard win, especially after five years, you dont forget how to do it but its tough, Barrichello said after earning the 100th victory for Brazilian drivers in F1.