2009 Formula 1 Mid-Season Review: Button Leads the Charge

The Formula 1 crowd headed to Australia for the start of the season and before a wheel had turned there was the typical F1-style controversy.

Brawn GP, a new outfit formed after Honda decided to leave the sport as a result of the global economic downturn, was at the center. BMW Sauber and a few other teams logged protests against Toyota, Williams, and Brawn GP’s diffusers (it's the section at the rear of the car that slows air that coming off the car).

Australia

At the start of qualifying the Brawns shocked the entire field by qualifying an unbelievable first and second. Jenson Button, driving the Brawn, stormed to a victory that seemed almost easy by some standards.

Rubens Barrichello followed him home also in a Brawn. The pair were followed by the two Toyotas, adding fire to the diffuser controversy. The top teams of 2008, Ferrari, McLaren and BMW Sauber were no were to be found.

Malaysia

As the F1 circus arrived at Sepang, world champion Lewis Hamilton became the center of attention. Hamilton was accused of lying to the stewards about an incident regarding Jaron Trulli overtaking him during a caution period of the race. Hamilton was later disqualified and apologized for his actions.

Jenson Button proved Australia was no fluke with an impressive two pole positions in succession. Due to heavy rain and then fading light, the race was stopped after 31 out of 56 laps were completed.

According to F1 regulations only half points would be awarded. Button took his second win of the season and once again the Ferraris and McLarens were out of the top places. 

China

When the circus arrived at the Shangain circuit, the ruling for the diffusers used by Toyota, Williams and Brawn GP was made.

They were deemed legal and the other teams had to start playing catch up.

McLaren brought a new interim diffuser and pace improved. However, talk of the diffuser was put aside as Sebastian Vettel stormed to pole and the Brawns were left fourth and fifth on the grid. Fernando Alonso lined up a shocking second on the grid, indicating a potential shift of power back to the traditional top teams.

Vettel drove brilliantly and secured his second career victory and an amazing 1-2 finish for Red Bull racing. The Brawns recovered to finish third and fourth proving that not all their rivals had caught up.

Bahrain

As the teams headed to Bahrain, there were finally no scandals or judgments to contend with. The focus returned to racing.

Vettel was labeled as the main challenger to the Brawns and he proved it by qualifying. He took third place ahead of Button. Toyotas qualified 1-2, a major accomplishment for a team that has promised so much but delivered so little at this point in the season.

At the start of the race, Hamilton used his KER (Kinetic Energy Recovery) system to power ahead of Button. However the Brawn used a superb strategy (and was also blessed with the fact that Vettel was stuck in traffic for long periods of the race) to pull off another win.

The Vettel finished 7 seconds behind in second place and Toyota salvaged only third place from a race that had so much promise. Ferrari saved themselves from the embarrassment of having their worst start to a season when Kimi Räikkönen finished sixth. The return of the top teams was put on hold for another week.

Spain

After a short break, the teams geared up for the first European race of the season. The break gave many teams a chance to try to catch up to their rivals. This gave hope to many teams and drivers. Hamilton was a notable exception telling the press his team expected Spain to be the worst race of the season.

Yet again the Brawns proved strong and Button took pole position. Vettel proved a worthy challenger in second and Felipe Massa demonstrated Ferrari’s improvement with an unexpected fourth. During the race the main battle was between Button and Rubens Barrichello.

A late pit-stop strategy change left Barrichello in second and Button with yet another win. Button’s win marked him champion elect for the season with a commanding 14-point lead. Massa finished a sad sixth with a suspicion that he did not have enough fuel, which later proved to not to be true, and cost Massa a fourth place finish.

Monaco

Into the glamour and into the politics as we head to the principality of Monaco.

A proposed budget cap of €40 million was strongly rejected by Ferrari and the team issued a threat to quit the sport if the rule was instated. Ferrari’s objection to the rule was based on the reward teams would get for signing up for the budget cap.

They would be allowed more technical freedom, which could lead to as much as three tenths of a second per lap advantage. Ferrari claimed the rules would create a second tier of teams  which they viewed as unsporting.

As for the race, the stage seemed set for the return of Ferrari to the fore with Räikkönen and Massa setting fastest times in the first two sessions of qualifying. Button once more frustrated his rivals with another pole position while Räikkönen was left a close second on the grid.

Barrichello was third and Massa fifth with Vettel forced to settle for fourth. Button drove brilliantly holding off Räikkönen at the start, which proved critical as he was able to control his pace and ease to an astonishing fifth win out of six races. He extended his lead to 16 points over Barrichello and virtually ended Vettel’s rain as a contender man with a 28 point lead.

The Ferraris finished third and fourth and were at times quicker than the Brawns. It was a small sign they could prove challengers for the highflying team.

Turkey (Preview)

The circus heads to Istanbul park with Massa a favorite on the back of having won three races in a row there and with Ferrari’s improved form. Button’s performances this season made him a firm favorite for every race this season as his sensational and generally unchallenged climb to the championship crown continues.

Räikkönen is always a danger man and the way he out paced Massa in Monaco qualifying proves the car may be working better for him. Vettel should be a man to watch if the Ferraris falter, but the smart money has to be with Button.

The Brawn car has proved very fast in tracks where down force is highly important such as Spain and Turkey.