Jenson Button: Simply the Best in Monaco Qualifying

After a reasonable few practice sessions, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from Brawn for qualifying. Ferrari, McLaren, Williams, Alonso and to an extent Force India had been strong and I must say I was very excited!

Fernando Alonso said earlier that 70 percent of winning the race at Monaco depended on qualifying on pole.  Apparently in twenty three years, only one driver has won from outside of the top three.  So with those statistics, how would Brawn fare today?

Saturday Qualifying, 23rd May 2009

Qualifying One

The Toyotas were out first today, but the session was quickly yellow flagged after a mistake from Massa near the swimming pool complex just four minutes in.

The first time was eventually set by Fisichella (1:19:473) and with five minutes gone there were 10 times on the board.  The key question for Brawn was when to go out.  Traffic would play a huge role at this Grand Prix and as the track came into its own, timing would be critical.

Jenson’s first time was 1:17:932, which put him in P7.  The birthday boy, (Rubens) managed a 1:17:902, which stole P7 from his teammate.

With only eleven minutes left, Jenson was going very fast and got himself up to P2 with a 1:16:181; (Vettel was first with a 1:16:045). On his second attempt, Rubens again stole a place from Jens, when he put in a great time for Second place.

With 10 minutes left, Rubens was second and Jenson fourth...but not for long. The Brit, who had not been too strong all weekend, stormed up the rankings and became the first driver to break into the 1 minute 15s; Jens got P1 with a 1:15:817. 

However, just as he crossed the line we heard that Rubens was on a charge.  The camera switched to the Brazilian just as he touched the barriers, surely mucking up his lap...no! where did that time come from!? Rubens rocketed into pole with a mesmerising 1:15:660!

Next, a rare Monaco mistake for Lewis Hamilton led to the session being red flagged with eight minutes left.  It was such a shame as Hamilton had been very quick all weekend, but it was great news for Brawn as a significant challenger had now been finished.

The session restarted at 13:24 (GMT) and Button re-emerged with five minutes left.  He shot around the streets to re-take pole from his team mate with a 1:15:210, but Rosberg went faster still and finished Q1 on top.     

Q1
Jenson Button: P2: 1:15:210
Rubens Barrichello: P5 :1:15:425

Qualifying Two

This time it was Massa who set the first time, but Raikkonen was faster and I could only copy his time down (1:15:332).  Jens’s first time was fine, but not great; it was good enough for third though (1:19:557).  Rubens’s 1:16:320 put the Brazilian in P5.  Five minutes in Jenson was now sixth with Rubens in seventh.

Rubens pulled his finger out though and became the first Brawn man to top the sheets in Q2 with a 1:14:829.  However, he was quickly toppled by Webber and then Kovalainen.  By this stage I was beginning to worry about Jens though who was in P9 with only eight minutes left!

With six minutes left, Jenson had fallen to P10! Two minutes past and Jenson was out on the super softs, not going particularly well.  He picked up the pace and did eventually raise himself to sixth (phew!!) with a 1:15:016. 

It was seat of the pants stuff from Jenson; who only just made it in really! Raikkonen finished on top with a 1:14:514 and Rubens managed a more encouraging P4.
 
Q2    
Rubens Barrichello: P4: 1:14:829
Jenson Button: P8: 1:15:016

Qualifying Three

After all the worries of Q2, I must admit my rough title for this article was ‘Brawn under pressure!’.  However as the third session developed it changed rapidly into its new title!  

Button was out quickly on the super softs, but it was Vettel who set the first time (1:16:206).  Jens’s first time put him in second (1:16:301) and Rubens’s put him in fourth (1:19:677).

A lightly fuelled Rosberg was going very well and looked threatening but I think at this stage I was still watching Vettel closely for pole.  The German put in an awesome time of 1:15:395 and whilst the Brawns were fast…they were not fast enough.

With three fascinating minutes left, everyone was out! One minute later, Rubens was in third, with Jenson fourth. 

It looked as if it was over…but then…out of nowhere….Jens was absolutely hammering it!  He was amazing, but Raikkonen was going very well too. 

The Fin crossed the line first (1:14:927) followed closely by Jens…..but how did he do?...with a phenomenal lap, the Championship leader showed us all how truly great he is with a 1:14:902. Yet another pole for Jens and yet another nail in the coffin for his critics!  


Q3
Jenson Button P1: 1:14:902
Rubens Barrichello: P3: 1:15:077

Wow! What a session! Rubens must be kicking himself as he was consistently faster than his team mate, but yet again Jenson pulled a lap out of nowhere! I am slightly worried about the Ferrari in second, but if Fernando was right, Jens has done 70 percent of his job!

FINGERS FIRMLY CROSSED!!!