Formula 1 | seasonal f1 moan

My lifetime passion

Spain

Saturday, 9 May 2009 ‡ 15:01

An exciting finish to the end of the qualifying session with Button just managing to start his final flying lap 2 seconds before the end - securing another pole position start this season. Vettel just lost out to Button and so did Barrichello. An amazing set of laps with less than 1 second separating the top 8 starters. Again Ferrari have such a relaxed attitude with Kimi (probably) sucking on ice lollies when he decided that his 1m21.2 would easily take him into the next qualifying session and didn't. Absolutely pathetic decision from whoever made it and worse decision from Stefano Domenicali allow it. If Ferrari and Kimi have decided to give up the fact that they have no chance this season of winning the WDC title, they may as well not attend any races this season, save money, work on developing next year's car and come back in March 2010.

The first corner was like a ten pin bowling alley, with Sutil and Trulli coming together on the track after both had left it for different reasons, causing both Toro Rosso's to collide. Debris all over the track we had a 5 lap safety car stint with Barrichello leading from Button, Massa, Vettel and Webber.

As the race began on lap 6 Rubens continued with the formation behind him unchanged until the first set of pit stops. Kimi having hydraulic problems with his Ferrari was out on lap 17. Apart from a close encounter with Alonso coming out of the pits, Hamilton drove a lonely race to finish just out of the points. With Buttons fourth win and finishing comfortably over 13s ahead of team mate Rubens in second and Webber in third, he must feel he has a chance to win the 2009 drivers championship. McLaren having trouble and Ferrari's not really on the ball, Buttons nearest rival, apart from his team mate is Vettel 18 points adrift.

Rubens i feel does not have the aggression to challenge Button, he's too nice. Vettel and Webber will be chasing Button hard but i think the Brawn will have the advantage on most tracks. It has been good to see different cars up front and i think Button is showing that he does have what it takes to be champion.

Labels: brawn, button, ferrari, mclaren, vettel

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Malaysia

Sunday, 5 April 2009 ‡ 11:59

If Lewis has put the Australian GP issue to the back of his mind during qualifying, McLaren were definitely off the pace. Surprisingly Ferrari's over confidence leaves Massa at the back with Kimi just managing to secure a 7th spot. Trulli displayed some excellent pace in his Toyota but could not keep Button off his 2nd pole this season.

Button falls back behind Rosberg and Trulli at the start, but inherits the lead during the leaders pitstops. Brilliant battle between Glock and Alonso during the early part of the race, with Glock winning the position after several hard attempts. Amazingly Ferrari's Raikkonen gambled with fitting extreme wets while the track was bone dry several laps before it actually began raining, which i thought was too early, but timing would have been perfect had it been a few laps later. It really never did rain as hard as i expected.

Another brilliant battle between Hamilton and Webber during the earlier slippery rain period. I want to believe the rule changes really have made a difference, allowing more overtaking opportunities.

Glock, Hamilton and Rosberg are first to change on to Inters, with the rest of the grid following suit, probably finding their Extremes not giving them enough traction since it has not rained as heavy as expected. Moments later massive lightening and heavy rain negates the drivers choice for Inters a few laps earlier. Button visited the pits for Inters and then back in a lap later for Extremes. With about 25 laps to the end, the safety car is out due to Vittel spinning off and heavy rain, then a lap later red flagged with Button first, followed by the other points finsihers Heidfeld, Glock, Trulli, Barrichello, Webber, Hamilton and Rosberg.

Labels: brawn, button, malaysian, virgin

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