Action From the 2009 Australian Grand Prix as Jenson Button Seals Dream Debut

Yoosof Farah by Senior Writer Written on March 29, 2009
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 28:  Jenson Button of Great Britain and Brawn GP drives on his way to taking pole position during qualifying for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at the Albert Park Circuit on March 28, 2009 in Melbourne, Australia.  (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Well well, what a debut for Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello in the Brawn GP car. After securing a one-two in qualifying, the former Honda pair followed that up with another one-two on race day. 

It was his first Grand Prix victory in three years and only the second of his career for Jenson Button, as he helped his team gain a massive 18 points and soar well into the lead in the Constructor's Championship.

After starting on pole, Button was almost in a world of his own as he led for much of the race, holding off the efforts of a very promising looking Sebastian Vettel for Toro Rosso, as well as BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica.

But it wasn't to be so straightforward for his Brazilian counterpart however, as Rubens Barrichello, who started in second, almost stalled and was very slow off the line.

This meant by the first corner he was down in seventh, and it seemed to get even worse as the Brawn GP driver collided with Red Bull's Mark Webber and BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld, damaging his front wing.

McLaren Mercedes driver Heikki Kovalainen wanted in on the action in this first corner melee, and as a result had to retire, with Heidfeld suffering a puncture, and Aussie homeboy Webber needing a new front wing.

It was a terrible start by Barrichello, but as the race wore on he got back into the action, and towards the end, when it looked like he would end up fourth, a miracle happened for Brawn GP and Barrichello.

Two hungry young men who go by the names of Sebastian Vettel and Robert Kubica were battling it out for second place, and in their scrappy dogfight Kubica tried to pass Vettel from the outside. However, the pair collided.

The German promptly spun and hit the wall, while Kubica, with his front wing missing, did exactly the same three corners later.

This meant the then fourth placed Barrichello could jump up to second, and behind his victorious teammate, with the aid of the resulting safety car, the Brazilian could finish exactly where he started. In second, on the podium, securing a memorable one-two finish for him and his team.

However, this wasn't the only spirited drive of the day. The other guy on the podium, Toyota's Italian driver Jarno Trulli, finished third overall after being forced to start from the pits in 19th place.

And you either love him or you hate him, but you have to give credit for the current WDC champion Lewis Hamilton.

After having been almost written off in securing any points position, the McLaren Mercedes no.1 driver ended up in fourth place, missing out on a podium place only for the introduction of the safety car allowing Trulli to get back into third.

Yet another outstanding performer at the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit was Formula One debutant Sebastian Buemi for Toro Rosso.

The Swiss driver proved his critics wrong and showed that he wasn't there just to make up the numbers, as an outstanding debut drive battling against the likes of Felipe Massa and Lewis Hamilton meant that he managed secure the last points position. Pretty good for a young rookie.

However, it wasn't all happy days in the land of Oz, as Ferrari endured yet another dismal day at the Australian Grand Prix.

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written on March 29, 2009 Game Recap

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