Red Bull End Brawn Dominance, but Fernando Alonso Is My Driver of the Day

Well, I’m not quite sure what to say about qualifying today. If last year at China Jens and Rubens had qualified where they did today I would be jumping for joy. Of course I am extremely pleased with the result today, especially as a Fernando Alonso fan. I suppose I’m just a bit miffed with Red Bull.  

The team that was complaining more than most about "double diffuser gate" have shown that the fuss was about nothing really. I don’t know I’m probably still just angry about the court case. It is only race three, why did the teams (particularly Red Bull) feel such a strong need to complain? The only team (of the naughty three) to perform very well today was Brawn, who ended up fourth and fifth.

Saturday Practice, 18th April 2009

A strange session in which Brawn were far from dominant; Rosberg ended up on top (of course).  Many believe that Brawn had something up their sleeves, but nevertheless, it was slightly worrying. 

Saturday Qualifying, 18th April 2009 

Qualifying One

As usual this season, Williams were out first, with Rosberg putting in a strong time.  After about five minutes the two Brawns took to the Shanghai circuit.  Jenson was straight away faster than Rosberg but Rubens seemed to be having troubles.

The Brazilian didn’t look great as he carried out his first hot lap and eventually gave up on it.  Jenson’s first time put him up to P1 (1:37:231) but he was instantly put down by Mark Webber (a taste of what was to come?). After abandoning his hot lap Rubens was in P13. After strong times from Massa and Vettel Jenson was down in fourth.

However a rocket lap shot the Brit right back to the top with a time of 1:36:578.  Soon after Rubens too shot up the grid to P3 (1:36:663). Both Brawns then slipped down the rankings again but with 10 minutes left, were running well.

Rubens eventually put in a time that gave him pole (1:36:374) but I was worried to see a charging Nico Rosberg, who was under pressure and on super soft tyres.  The German was fast, but not fast enough and only managed P3 (which at this point saw Jenson fall to sixth, just 0:204s slower than Rubens).

The last few minutes of Q1 were franticly exciting! Rosberg toppled Rubens from P1, but seconds later the Brazilian was on top again.  Just as I was about to write down Rubens’s pole position time...Jenson flew through and gained P1 right at the end with a time of 1:35:533.

What a perfect start! Brawn first and second. 

Q1

Jenson Button: P1:  1:35:533

Rubens Barrichello: P2:   +0.168s   

Qualifying Two

After a perfect first twenty minutes, what would the next fifteen hold?  Again the Williams were out early and after about three minutes so too were the Brawns (this time on soft tyres).  Rubens shot straight up to P1 with a time of 1:35:784 whilst Jenson put in a decent time for P3.  

I noticed that in Q1 and Q2 the Brawns seemed to be performing more efficiently through Sector three than the other teams (as in Friday practice).  This small point didn’t help the Brawns stay on top though, as with five minutes left they lined up third (Rubens) and eighth (Jenson).

Both Brawn men began to pick up the pace (Jenson at this stage faster than Rubens). Towards the end of his lap Rubens seemed to be having problems and was slowing down! I sank back into my chair and thought GEARS!  

However, it turned out that Rubens had probably made a small mistake and was saving his tyres by slowing down.  Jens was fast and with seconds to go, gained  P1 with a time of 1:35:556.  But the Brit was quickly toppled by both Red Bull cars.  Rubens went stronger on his second attempt, but could only manage P3.

Q2    

Rubens Barrichello: P3:  1:35:414

Jenson Button: P4:   1:35:550

Qualifying Three

So for the first time in a while the Brawns were not on top, but come on! Imagine where Honda were last year!

For Q3 we learnt that both Brawn drivers had been complaining (Rubens with over-steer and Jenson, under-steer).  So for this session the tyre pressures were adjusted to address these issues.  

It was very nice to see Alonso charging around the track putting in strong times in this final session, but at the same time worrying (as a Brawn fanatic) to see how quick the Red Bulls still were!

Webber was initially fastest with a time of 1:37:188 and Jenson could only manage second with a 1:37:146.  Rubens however, was lapping very well.  The Brazilian definatey had the upper hand on his team mate today and he gained P1 with a time of 1:37:146.

It was close, and exciting! With ten minutes left all ten cars were on track.  The race was initially between Brawn and Red Bull, but all of a sudden the commentators started screaming about a curtain Spanish chap.  

Webber was first across the line (P1), followed by Jenson (P2).  Next came Vettel who astonished everyone with a pole posiition time of 1:35:184!  The race was now between Fernando and Rubens.  

The Brazilian was first to cross the line and into P3...but with the commentators shouting their heads off and me on the edge of my seat...Fernando Alonso crossed the line and gained a hugely deserved P2! 

Many people’s driver of the day will be Vettel, others Buemi, but for me, the driver was Alonso and the team, Renault. 

Q3

Rubens Barrichello: P4:  1:36:493

Jenson Button P:5  1:36:532

Jenson Button was shocked by the pace of Red Bull and seemed a little bit disheartened at the end of Qualifying.  However, as I said before, fifth and fourth in only the third race, considering where they were last year, is a miracle! 

A great qualifying session and I can’t wait for tomorrow!