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Before launching into my second instalment of Brawn GP’s 2009 season review, I would like to have a quick rant about the situation in the team at the moment.
I have to say when it comes to BGP vs. Jenson Button, I’m actually on Brawn’s side. There are those who argue that as World Champ Jens deserves more cash, but last year the young Brit probably "earned" more money than I will ever have in my life.
He’s my hero, but he is a complete fool not signing a deal with Brawn. I mean, what are his other choices? Ferrari and Red Bull are closed, which only leaves McLaren if he wants to carry out a realistic defence away from Brawn.
The Brit has actually visited McLaren HQ recently with his manager, but Lewis Hamilton is the No. 1 driver at McLaren and probably always will be. I don’t want to get into a discussion over who is better out of the two world champions because I don’t know who would win. The fact is Hamilton would be No. 1, and this wouldn’t be good for Jens.
His only real option is Brawn GP; he owes Brawn an awful lot, and frankly I expect he can probably cope without a big shiny yacht to park in Monaco near his big shiny house! Sorry, Jenson, but if you go to McLaren, I think that’ll be it. I’ll either switch to Nando in the Ferrari, or simply switch F1 off.
CHINA 2009
Let’s forget about all that for now and launch into the next two races of 2009. Before the third race of the season in China, Brawn GP’s controversial diffuser was declared legal. They celebrated this news with strong performances in Practice One and Two, but were very disappointing in P3. Did this mean anything for qualifying?
Saturday Qualifying
It all began well with Button finishing Q1 in pole and Rubens Barrichello in second. However, the Red Bulls looked a threat, and, sure enough, they dominated Q2 and Q3 despite only putting in minimal runs. My driver of the day was Alonso, who, thanks to the extremely hard work of his team the night before, managed an astonishing qualification of Q2!
Post qualifying, many people believed that the three frontrunning Renaults were lighter than the Brawns, but I was nevertheless apprehensive about race day.
If Jens and Barrichello had qualified where they did in China 2009 in 2008 (Barrichello P4, Jens, P5) I would have been jumping for joy. However, Red Bull’s dominance, coupled with Brawn’s strange U-turn, left me feeling a little miffed.
Sunday Race
Wet conditions led to a slow and rather dull start, but when the race did eventually start it was a corker! Just before the safety car came in Renault decided to risk a potentially very beneficial strategy and pulled Alonso into the pits.
As the safety car was coming in on that lap, Alonso theoretically would be in a strong position with new tyres and fuel, even if he was at the back. Unfortunately for Alonso the strategy ultimately failed, but Renault's early decision boosted both Button and Barrichello up a place.
On lap eight the race was finally started properly. Sebastien Vettel immediately pulled away and was driving very well. After an unfortunate mistake on the last corner, Button was able to overtake Barrichello and gain third place.
After a Mark Webber pit stop, Button gained second (Barrichello third). It was now up to the Brawns to charge and open a gap between themselves and the rest of the pack.
Button did all he could, putting in personal best times, he was also helped by a safety car thanks to an incident between Kubica and Trulli. The Brawns thankfully had to pit around this time anyway.
Button pitted on lap 19, Barrichello one lap later. This strategy seemed to have worked for the Brawn drivers, who rejoined in positive positions. Button joined the pack in second (having put in fast laps before coming in) and Barrichello was seventh with many cars in front needing to come in soon.
Straight from the restart, Button was under immense pressure from third placed Mark Webber, and so began an exciting battle for second. Vettel was pulling away, and largely out of the picture, but Jens was closing occasionally whilst fending off a determined Australian.
By this stage Barrichello was going very slowly, which led many to believe he was on a one stop strategy; he wasn’t, he just couldn’t find the speed.
Meanwhile, an unlucky mistake from Button saw the Red Bull take P2. Then, just three exciting laps later, Webber made a mistake and Button was once again second! But then on the same lap into corners seven and eight Mark Webber was victorious with a nice manoeuvre.
It was brilliant driving from both men and very exciting to watch!
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