Monaco 2009
IT IS CLEARLY BECOMING A HABIT FOR BRAWN - THE 3RD 1-2 FINISH IN THE 6 RACES COMPLETED SO FAR THIS SEASON. JENSON BUTTON WON WITH RUBENS BARRICHELLO 2ND.
AS NO ONE WHO FOLLOWS FORMULA 1 WILL NEED REMINDING, MONACO IS THE MOST DIFFICULT PLACE TO OVERTAKE OF ANY CIRCUIT - ALWAYS HAS BEEN, ALWAYS WILL BE. THAT DOES NOT MAKE IT UNINTERESTING BECAUSE THE POTENTIAL FOR THE SLIGHTEST ERROR OR LAPSE OF CONCENTRATION TO BE HARSHLY PUNISHED BY THE UNFORGIVING ARMCO BARRIERS IS VERY HIGH.
AND NOT JUST IN THE RACE! LEWIS HAMILTON WRECKED HIS NEAR-SIDE REAR SUSPENSION ON THE TYRE BARRIER AT MIRABEAU DURING THE Q1 SESSION ON SATURDAY LEAVING HIM 16TH BUT THEN HIS GEARBOX NEEDED CHANGING AND THE PENALTY DROPPED HIM TO THE BACK OF THE GRID.
ANOTHER IMPROVEMENT FROM FERRARI SAW KIMI RAIKKONEN APPARENTLY TAKE POLE AT THE LAST GASP IN Q3 ONLY FOR A SUPERB LAP FROM JENSON TO SNATCH IT AWAY SECONDS LATER. RUBENS WAS 3RD AND THE START ON SUNDAY WAS GOING TO BE VERY INTERESTING.
THE BRAWNS HAVE OCCASIONALLY BOGGED DOWN AT THE START BUT NOT HERE - JENSON WAS AWAY AND CLEAR BEFORE THE FIRST CORNER AT ST. DEVOTE AND RUBENS GOT AHEAD OF KIMI BEFORE KIMI'S 'KERS' COULD GIVE HIM THE REQUIRED BOOST. BOTH BRAWNS HAD OPTED FOR THE SOFT TYRES, UNLIKE THE REST OF THE GRID, TO GAIN THAT ADVANTAGE OFF THE LINE BUT IT SOON BECAME APPARENT THAT THESE TYRES WERE NOT AS DURABLE IN RACE CONDITIONS AS HAD BEEN ANTICIPATED.
SO BOTH CARS PITTED EARLIER THAN EXPECTED TO CHANGE TO THE HARDER TYRE AND FROM THEN ON IT WAS CLEAR THAT, BARRING SAFETY CAR INCIDENTS OR MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN, THEY WERE GOING TO ACHIEVE THAT 1-2 FINISH. KIMI AND FELIPE MASSA FILLED THE NEXT TWO PLACES.
ONE AMUSING LITTLE INCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER THE RACE HAD FINISHED. JENSON FORGOT THAT THE 'PODIUM' CARS DO NOT GO INTO PARC FERMÉ AT MONACO BUT DRIVE TO THE ROYAL STAND ON THE START/FINISH STRAIGHT. SO HE HAD TO JOG ALONG THE STRAIGHT AND ARRIVED LATE BUT NOT BREATHLESS - A TESTAMENT TO HIS FITNESS AFTER SUCH A PHYSICALLY DEMANDING RACE. PRINCE ALBERT SEEMED SUITABLY AMUSED. AS THE TV COMMENTATOR SAID, "IT'S THE ONLY MISTAKE JENSON MADE TODAY!"
FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE NEVER DOUBTED JENSON'S ABILITY, IF ONLY HE COULD HAVE A CAR TO MATCH, THE FAIRY-TALE THAT IS THE BRAWN STORY IN 2009 IS ALREADY JUST REWARD FOR HIM AND, WHO KNOWS, IF IT CONTINUES THEN THE ULTIMATE GOAL MAY ALSO BE HIS AT THE END OF THE SEASON.
STARTING GRID
| | | |
| 1.
|
Jenson Button
|
| 2.
|
Kimi Raikkonen
|
| 3.
|
Rubens Barrichello
|
| 4.
|
Sebastian Vettel
|
| 5.
|
Felipe Massa
|
| 6.
|
Nico Rosberg
|
| 7.
|
Heikki Kovalainen
|
| 8.
|
Mark Webber
|
| 9.
|
Fernando Alonso
|
| 10.
|
Kazuki Nakajima
|
| 11.
|
Sebastien Buemi
|
| 12.
|
Nelson Piquet
|
| 13.
|
Giancarlo Fisichella
|
| 14.
|
Sebastien Bourdais
|
| 15.
|
Aidrian Sutil
|
| 16.
|
Nick Heidfeld
|
| 17.
|
Robert Kubica
|
| 18.
|
Jarno Trulli
|
| 19.
|
Lewis Hamilton
|
| 20.
|
Timo Glock
|
RESULT
| |
| 1.
|
Jenson Button
|
| 2.
|
Rubens Barrichello
|
| 3.
|
Kimi Raikkonen
|
| 4.
|
Felipe Massa
|
| 5.
|
Mark Webber
|
| 6.
|
Nico Rosberg
|
| 7.
|
Fernando Alonso
|
| 8.
|
Sebastien Bourdais
|
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
Drivers :
| |
| Jenson Button
|
51
|
| Rubens Barrichello
|
35
|
| Sebastian Vettel
|
23
|
| Mark Webber
|
19.5
|
| Jarno Trulli
|
14.5
|
| Timo Glock
|
12
|
| Fernando Alonso
|
11
|
| Kimi Raikkonen
|
9
|
| =Lewis Hamilton
|
9
|
Constructors :
|
| Brawn GP
|
86
|
| Red Bull Racing
|
42.5
|
| Toyota
|
26.5
|
| Ferrari
|
17
|
| McLaren
|
13
|
| Renault
|
11
|
| Williams
|
7.5
|
| BMW
|
6
|
| Scuderia Toro Rosso
|
5
|
| Force India
|
0
|
Race Results posted by
David Little
25th May 2009
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