Turkish Grand Prix – 2009

June 19, 2009 · Posted in Rambles · Comment 

Mark Webber There was much excitement for the start of this race. Sebastian Vettel managed to take pole position from Jensen Button after qualifying on Saturday. Vettel managed to get a good start off the line, however, a bit of a bungle on turn nine into ten sent him off the road. Button managed to sail past and kept the lead for another victory. The Red Bull cars still managed to show how well they are performing by taking the second and third podium positions. The next race is in England; home track for the race leader, Jensen Button. Wouldn’t it be fun for a man from Australia to win at Silverstone? I’ve got my fingers crossed for you, Mark.

Race Results:

Pos. Driver Team Grid Points
1 Jenson Button Brawn-Mercedes 2 10
2 Mark Webber RBR-Renault 2 8
3 Sebastian Vettel RBR-Renault 1 6
4 Jarno Trulli Toyota 5 5
5 Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota 9 4
6 Filipe Massa Ferrari 7 3
7 Robert Kubica BMW-Sauber 10 2
8 Timo Glock Toyota 13 1
9 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 6
10 Fernando Alonso Renault 8
11 Nick Heidfeld BMW-Sauber 11
12 Kazuki Nakajima Williams-Toyota 12
13 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 16
14 Heikki Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes 14
15 Sebastian Buemi STR-Ferrari 18
16 Nelsinho Piquet Renault 17
17 Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 15
18 Sebastian Bourdais STR-Ferrari 20
Ret Rubens Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes 3
Ret Giancarlo Fisichella Force India-Mercedes 19

Monaco Grand Prix – 2009

June 1, 2009 · Posted in Formula 1 · Comment 

monaco If I could only go to one race, I think it would have to be Monaco. They don’t call it the “Jewel of the Formula One crown” for nothing. In fact, to watch the race from the deck of one of those yachts would be quite nice.

Formula One has been racing around the streets of Monaco since 1929. The place simply oozes in history, spectacle and glamor. The track itself is tricky; one small slip could end up putting your car into a wall. Plus, with not many places to overtake, race strategy and pit stops are crucial.

As for the race results, well, Jensen Button and Brawn took the podium again.

Race Results:

Pos. Driver Team Grid Points
1 Jenson Button Brawn-Mercedes 1 10
2 Rubens Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes 3 8
3 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 2 6
4 Felipe Massa Ferrari 5 5
5 Mark Webber RBR-Renault 8 4
6 Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota 6 3
7 Fernando Alonso Renault 9 2
8 Sebastien Bourdais STR-Ferrari 14 1
9 Giancarlo Fisichella Force India-Mercedes 13
10 Timo Glock Toyota 19
11 Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber 16
12 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 20
13 Jarno Trulli Toyota 18
14 Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 15
15 Kazuki Nakajima Williams-Toyota 10
Ret Heikki Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes 7
Ret Robert Kubica BMW-Sauber 17
Ret Sebastian Vettel RBR-Renault 4
Ret Nelsinho Piquet Renault 12
Ret Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari 11

Spanish Grand Prix – 2009

May 14, 2009 · Posted in Formula 1 · Comment 

Jensen Button There were no major issues going into the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona. It looked like we were in for a lean racing weekend. Qualifying had me jumping for joy as I watched Vettel cross the line to take pole position. My celebrating was extremely short lived once I realized that Button had made it across the line to run his final lap with just a second to spare. Sure enough, he managed to take away the pole from Sebastian of Red Bull.

Once again, the Brawn cars finished up with a nice one – two. I have a feeling that Rubens may be getting tired of his teammate. Unfortunately, I just don’t think he can keep the pace as Jensen has been doing so well. Mark Webber managed to get on the podium with a third place win. And Massa had more trouble with his Ferrari. Running low on fuel he had to let Vettel and Alonso by, dropping him back to sixth.

Race Results:

Pos. Driver Team Grid Points
1 Jenson Button Brawn-Mercedes 1 10
2 Rubens Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes 3 8
3 Mark Webber RBR-Renault 5 6
4 Sebastian Vettel RBR-Renault 2 5
5 Fernando Alonso Renault 8 4
6 Felipe Massa Ferrari 4 3
7 Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber 13 2
8 Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota 9 1
9 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 14
10 Timo Glock Toyota 6
11 Robert Kubica BMW Sauber 10
12 Nelsinho Piquet Renault 12
13 Kazuki Nakajima Williams-Toyota 11
14 Giancarlo Fisichella Force India-Mercedes 20
Ret Kimi Räikkönen Ferarri 16
Ret Heikki Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes 18
Ret Jarno Trulli Toyota 7
Ret Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferarri 15
Ret Sebastien Bourdais STR-Ferarri 17
Ret Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 19

Bahrain Grand Prix – 2009

April 28, 2009 · Posted in Formula 1 · Comment 

Sakhir CircuitRace 4 was held at the Sakhir Circuit in the desert of Bahrain which pretty much guaranteed a dry race. The Toyotas surprised everyone by taking the top two slots in qualifying. Sebastian Vettel started in 3rd position while Mark Weber ended up at the back of the grid in 18th position after getting caught up in traffic on his last qualifying lap. Jenson Button drove his Brawn car to another first place podium finish with Vettel taking second and Jarno Trulli of Toyota finishing in third.
There’s a two week break until the next race in Spain. It will be interesting to see how many teams arrive with new rear diffusers.

Race Results:

Pos. Driver Team Grid Points
1 Jenson Button Brawn-Mercedes 4 10
2 Sebastian Vettel RBR-Renault 3 8
3 Jarno Trulli Toyota 5 1
4 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 5 5
5 Rubens Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes 6 4
6 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 10 3
7 Timo Glock Toyota 2 2
8 Fernando Alonso Renault 7 1
9 Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota 9
10 Nelsinho Piquet Renault 15
11 Mark Webber RBR-Renault 18
12 Heikki Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes 11
13 Sebastien Bourdais STR-Ferrari 20
14 Felipe Massa Ferrari 8
15 Giancarlo Fisichella Force India-Mercedes 17
16 Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 19
17 Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari 16
18 Robert Kubica BMW Sauber 13
19 Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber 14
Ret Kazuki Nakajima Williams-Toyota 12

Chinese Grand Prix – 2009

April 24, 2009 · Posted in Rambles · Comment 

weber_vettel
Race three was held under rainy skies in Shanghai, China. The race was started under a yellow flag and a safety car to continue this season’s trend of not having a clean start to finish race. More yellow flags and another safety car appearance after a couple of crashes by Sutil and Trulli caused more delays during the race.

All of the careful race planning and strategy that went into the amazing finish at qualifying was pretty much destroyed. This race could have been won by anyone. However, this was finally Red Bull’s moment with Vettel and Webber taking the team to a one – two finish.

Race Results:

Pos. Driver Team Grid Points
1 Sebastian Vettel RBR-Renault 1 10
2 Mark Webber RBR-Renault 3 8
3 Jenson Button Brawn-Mercedes 5 6
4 Rubens Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes 4 5
5 Heikki Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes 12 4
6 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 9 3
7 Timo Glock Toyota 19 2
8 Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari 10 1
9 Fernando Alonso Renault 2
10 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 8
11 Sebastien Bourdais STR-Ferrari 15
12 Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber 11
13 Robert Kubica BMW Sauber 17
14 Giancarlo Fisichella Force India-Mercedes 20
15 Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota 7
16 Nelsinho Piquet Renault 16
17 Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 18
Ret Kazuki Nakajima Williams-Toyota 14
Ret Felipe Massa BMW Sauber 13
Ret Jarno Trulli Toyota 6

The only controversy that is left swirling around is whatever the outcome may be for the McLaren team after next Wednesday’s meeting with the World Motor Sport Council in Paris. Although, McLaren has apologized and fired the main people involved in the lying scandal, they may still face some serious penalties. They could be facing a hefty fine, suspension from Spain and Monaco, exclusion from the Championship or any combination of the three. Depending on what decision is made by the WMSC, McLaren could also face the possibility of having some of its major sponsors pullout. Personally, I think a fine with a one race suspension for Hamilton may be adequate punishment. I don’t feel that the entire team should suffer for a mistake made by a few players. It would be especially unfair for Heikki Kovalainen. That’s my two cents on the topic, anyway.

We are off to Bahrain for the next race. I’m fairly sure that we should be able to avoid the rain.

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