Nothing Special from Brawn on Saturday as Toyotas Race Away with P1, P2

This race weekend was supposed to be the one in which we learn the true pace of this year’s grid. It is therefore disconcerting that Brawn have not been particularly fast yet. No headline grabbing times on Friday, but could Jens and Rubens pull a strong Qualifying performance out of the bag?

Saturday Practice, 25th April 2009

Timo Glock was the man who ended Rosberg’s ‘practice king’ run when he finished on top of Saturday practice. This was great news for Toyota….until the German’s engine packed up in Bahrain's scorching heat.

Jenson finished up in P15, and Rubens, P16. Not a wonderful start to Saturday, but given the intense heat perhaps Brawn had in mind to push for qualifying (as opposed to Glock, who now has one less engine!). 

Saturday Qualifying, 25th April 2009 

Qualifying One

The Brawns waited until there were thirteen minutes left to put their times in.  Jenson’s first competitive time saw him take P3 with 1:34:194.  After Rubens’s first attempt the Brazilian was down in ninth place.  

The Brawns certainly weren’t setting the world on fire (unlike Kubica…who’s car was on fire!). With ten minutes remaining Jens was P5 and Rubens P11.  Rather worryingly, on his second attempt Jens only managed P7 with a 1:34:078.  

Rubens too, was unable to find any significant speed with a time of 1:34:158 (P10). By this stage I was beginning to get anxious! Neither Brawn driver was safe, and both would need another run with super soft tyres; (the Ferraris and McLarens had reached the top of the time sheet by starting with super softs, whereas Brawn started on the harder compound).

With just three minutes left Rubens was on the bubble! Glock put in a fast lap and relegated Rubens to the danger zone. However, with just under a minute left Rubens shot up to P3 with a 1:33:116.  Seconds later Jenson pinched P3 with a 1:32:978.  When all the cars had gone through Jenson ended up P4 and Rubens P5. 

Jenson Button: P4: 1:32:978 

Rubens Barrichello: P5: 1:33:116

Qualifying Two

By this stage it had become clear; either the Brawns were standing still or the rest of the pack was catching up.  So far this weekend the Brawn cars have not been fast.

With twelve of the fifteen minutes remaining the Brawns were out.  Rubens was slow in Sector one but picked up the pace and put his car on top spot with 1:33:250, only to be knocked off by Jenson with a 1:33:107.  

However, after fast times from Trulli, Glock and Raikkonen, Jenson was in P4 with Rubens just behind his team mate.

With five minutes left Jens was sixth and Rubens eighth.  Yet another worrying finish saw Rubens in P9 with just two minutes left.  Jenson was still sixth but was at least driving quickly.  

After important final runs Rubens finished fifth (1:32:832) and Jenson sixth (1:32:842). Encouragingly Jenson had been very fast right at the end, but was called in.  

Rubens Barrichello: P5: 1:32:832

Jenson Button: P6: 1:32:842

Qualifying Three

After his first attempt Jenson was in P3 with a time of 1:34:595.  Rubens was only fast enough for P5 (1:34:970).  The Brazilian was at least very fast in sector one, the reason for his low placing was a mistake on the final corner.

With two minutes left Jens left the pits on a mission.  He was extremely fast in sectors one and two, and put in a strong time of 1:34:044, which gave him a short-lived provisional pole.  

Then both Toyotas and Vettel put in better times and knocked the Championship leader back to P4 (where he would finish).  Rubens put in a very unspectacular 1:34:239 and will start tomorrow in P6. Congratulations to Trulli for a well deserved P1. 

Jenson Button P4: 1:34:044

Rubens Barrichello: P6: 1:34:239 

Overall a rather concerning Saturday for we Brawn fanatics. Jenson stated after qualifying that although the car was fast in race practice, it was slow over single laps.  Although P4 and P6 are not disastrous, the fact that KERS cars are nearby means the chances of losing places off the start are high.

I don’t exactly feel frantic about tomorrow's race…I think apprehensive is a better word. Hopefully the Brawn cars will be better in the long (cooler) race.  We’ll see.