Britain’s Jenson Button took his first pole position in three years after a sensational qualifying session in Albert Park, scene of this year’s Australian Grand Prix. Team-mate Rubens Barrichello will start alongside sealing the front row for the new Brawn GP team competing in its first Formula One race.
Although Brawn GP is effectively a renamed Honda operation, it is officially classed as a new outfit – which makes today’s result the first time a new entrant has taken pole position for its debut since the factory Mercedes-Benz team in the 1954 French Grand Prix.
This is a remarkable achievement as only a few weeks ago the squad’s future was secured when Ross Brawn completed his buyout from Honda. To lockout the front row in Melbourne, with a sixth tenths (of a second) advantage over Red Bull Racing’s Sebastien Vettel (who lines up third on the grid) makes this result even more special.
The margin between the Brawn GP pair was only separated by 0.305 seconds, revealing a close and private duel for the top spot. In fact, Button and Barrichello dominated both Q1 and Q2, with a clear advantage over their rivals in each of the qualifying session.
But in the all-important pole position shootout, it was Button who emerged on top with a lap time of one minute, 26. 202 seconds.
Red Bull Racing’s Sebastien Vettel will line up behind the Brawn GP pair while Robert Kubica demonstrated his KERS-free BMW Sauber is still quicker than the KERS-enabled car of team-mate Nick Heidfeld (fourth and eleventh places respectively).
Practice pacesetter Nico Rosberg could only manage fifth for Williams, ahead of Toyota’s Timo Glock and championship runner-up Felipe Massa in the Ferrari.
Jarno Trulli puts the second Toyota in eighth position with past champion Kimi Raikkonen down in ninth place.
As for the home crowd favourite, Mark Webber was initially as high as third on the provisional grid following his first run in Q3, but over the course of the session, the Australian was pushed back down to tenth.
What about McLaren? How did the team fare in this all-important session in Melbourne? Well, as expected the team was unable to challenge for the top ten spots and world champion Lewis Hamilton was even forced to retire after a gearbox/drivetrain problem at the end of Q1. He will start his first race as a defending champion in a disastrous P15 on the grid… His team-mate Heikki Kovalainen didn’t suffer any technical problems but made little difference to boost the team, as the Finn could only P14.
Renault also lacked pace with the double world champion Fernando Alonso down in a disappointing P12, split between the BMW Sauber of Heidfeld and Kazuki Nakajima’s Williams.
As for the only rookie competing this year, Toro Rosso’s Sebastien Buemi did a solid job to out-qualify his more experienced team-mate Sebastien Bourdais. The Swiss was 0.4 seconds faster over the four times Champ Car star and will line up on his maiden Formula One race in P16. As for the Frenchman, he will start last complaining of a lack of tyre temperatures.
So, an unusual grid for this Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. Pre-race favourite Jenson Button is on target to score a dream victory for Brawn GP following an exciting qualifying session. The speed from the Red Bull Racing team is also impressive in particular Vettel. As for Lewis Hamilton, this result is not what he needed as the new champion, so the challenges that lay ahead as he races through mid-pack will be fascinating. Roll on race day for the start of the new 2009 Formula One World Championship!
Qualifying times from Melbourne:
1. Button Brawn-Mercedes 1:26.202
2. Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes 1:26.505
3. Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1:26.830
4. Kubica BMW-Sauber 1:26.914
5. Rosberg Williams-Toyota 1:26.973
6. Glock Toyota 1:26.975
7. Massa Ferrari 1:27.033
8. Trulli Toyota 1:27.127
9. Raikkonen Ferrari 1:27.163
10. Webber Red Bull-Renault 1:27.246
11. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber 1:25.504
12. Alonso Renault 1:25.605
13. Nakajima Williams-Toyota 1:25.607
14. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes 1:25.726
15. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:26.454
16. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:26.503
17. Piquet Renault 1:26.598
18. Fisichella Force India-Mercedes 1:26.677
19. Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1:26.742
20. Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:26.964
UPDATE:
Timo Glock and Jarno Trulli have been stripped of their grid positions for the Australian Grand Prix for a flexible wing infringement.
Glock had qualified sixth on the grid, with Jarno Trulli two places further behind, for their Toyota team at Albert Park.
However, following post-qualifying technical inspections by the FIA, it was found that the team’s rear wing elements were in breach of the rules.
A statement issued by the FIA said: “The Stewards have received a report from the Technical Delegate that the upper rear wing elements of cars No. 9 and 10 are showing extreme flexibility in contravention of Article 3.15 of the 2009 Formula One Technical Regulations.
“The Stewards have heard the explanation from a representative of Panasonic Toyota Racing and have examined the cars in question.
“The Stewards concur with the opinion of the Technical Delegate and find the cars contravene the requirements of Article 3.15 of the 2009 Formula One Technical Regulations.
“It is the Stewards decision that cars number 9 and 10 be excluded from the Qualifying Session Official Classification.”
Article 3.15 of the technical regulations states that wings must not have ‘any degree of freedom’ and ‘remain immobile in relation to the sprung part of the car.’
The results mean that Trulli and Glock will start the race from the back of the grid.
Toyota said it will not appeal the decision.
Source: Autosport.com and F1.com
UPDATE 2:
McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton will start from the back of the grid at the Australian Grand Prix following a gearbox change.
The Briton was unable to complete a single lap in Q2 after being hit by a gearbox failure at the end of the first qualifying segment.
Although McLaren could have changed the gears and avoid a penalty, the team has decided to replace the gearbox altogether, meaning Hamilton will get a grid penalty.
“It was a gear failure and although we are allowed to change gears under the regulations, we will change the gearbox,” said team boss Martin Whitmarsh.
Under the current rules, gearboxes must last for four grands prix.
Source: Autosport.com