Formula 1 | seasonal f1 moan

My lifetime passion

Valencia

Saturday, 22 August 2009 ‡ 14:07

Unfortunately Schumacher will be unable to drive in place of Massa, so Ferrari decided to take on Badoer, their test driver. Surprisingly, they had a few options, i think i may have given one of the sacked drivers a chance, maybe behind a Ferrari, they may have performed better, maybe Gene or even Bruno Senna, it was an opportunity which i feel they have wasted on their test driver for the past 10 years, who had he been fast enough would have stepped into a race probably 8 years ago.

Nothing too eventful during qualifying, except McLaren are continuing on their progress to deliver Hamilton a race winning car, who had taken pole from the inconsistent Kovalainen, who may have lost it to Lewis on the final corner of Q3 due to minor wobble due to grabbing the white line into the final corner.

Mclaren's both off the line well, Barrichello does well with a heavy car to slot in behind them with Kimi and Webber following. Button drops a couple of places due to hard charging Vettel. Button never really recovers and to me it seems as though he has lost the will to fight, as if he has resigned to losing the championship. His team mate however has decided he will be fighting all the way and it showed today with an impressive and very calculated drive. Following Kovalainen until the first pitstop allowed the Brazilian to put in some quick laps in order to get ahead after his first stop, which he duly delivered. He was now to set his sights on Hamilton. Exactly the same tactic, follow until the McLaren pitted, put in some quick laps and take him on the out lap... made easier for the Brawn since McLaren were not ready with tyres for Hamilton and this must have cost him an extra 3 to 4 seconds in the pits. Rubens was then on his way to his first win for Brawn.

Nothing else really happened during the race, Nakajima blew a rear but managed to get back to the pits, Vettel's engine blew and Badoer cruised home, but not without a few detours on the way. Ferrari must reconsider their choice when a driver is 3 seconds off the pace, going into Spa.

Ruben's win takes him second in the championship and he could now suggest he really does have a chance at the championship, but mathematically it requires Button to finish at least 2 places behind Ruben's in the remaining six races. Button needs to decide if he wants this championship, since he only needs to secure podiums or stay 1 place behind Rubens, even win one more race and points in 5 races.