Shake and brake in Formula 1
Brawny Roll: Wonder down under in qualifying for the opening round of the 2009 Formula 1 season was the performance of Brawn GP team. Jenson Button, the lost man of British motor racing after the emergence of Lewis Hamilton, put the Mercedes-Benz powered car on pole position on its debut. Fellow Brit Jackie Stewart was the last man to achieve this feat when he put Uncle Ken’s Tyrrell on pole at Mosport for the 1970 Canadian Grand Prix.
Teammate Rubens Barrichello, the lost man of Brazilian motor racing since the emergence of Felipe Massa, will share the front row with Button. Barrichello’s experience and long term relationship with Ross Brawn salvaged his career after the shock withdrawal of Honda late last year. Their decision deprived the return of Senna’s name, as in Bruno, to the Grand Prix circuit.
Third man in the photo and on the grid is Sebastian Vettel, youngest Grand Prix and pole winner, his determined looks and raw talent reminds one of another young German driver from the early 90s.
Come undone: Nelsinho Piquet is feeling the heat from the start of the new season. Poor and erratic season last year has made him a marked man. He must up his game against his teammate, no small task, or risk Romain Grosjean gearing up for a debut later in the year.
Toyota excluded from the final results of the qualifying.
Jenson Button takes the pole in Melbourne!
Rubens Barrichello completes the front row for the Brawn machine.
Sebastien Vettel holds on to third position.
Virgin may take over Brawn GP name.
Pos Driver Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Laps
1. Button Brawn-Mercedes (B) 1:25.211 1:24.855 1:26.202 19
2. Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes (B) 1:25.006 1:24.783 1:26.505 21
3. Vettel Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:25.938 1:25.121 1:26.830 21
4. Kubica BMW-Sauber (B) 1:25.922 1:25.152 1:26.914 19
5. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) 1:25.846 1:25.123 1:26.973 21
6. Glock Toyota (B) 1:25.499 1:25.281 1:26.975 19
7. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:25.844 1:25.319 1:27.033 21
8. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:26.194 1:25.265 1:27.127 20
9. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) 1:25.899 1:25.380 1:27.163 21
10. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:25.427 1:25.241 1:27.246 20
11. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber (B) 1:25.827 1:25.504 14
12. Alonso Renault (B) 1:26.026 1:25.605 12
13. Nakajima Williams-Toyota (B) 1:26.074 1:25.607 16
14. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:26.184 1:25.726 15
15. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:26.454 no time 5
16. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:26.503 10
17. Piquet Renault (B) 1:26.598 12
18. Fisichella Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:26.677 10
19. Sutil Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:26.742 9
20. Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:26.964 10