Button and Barichello on the front row for first F1 race

[DivideBYZero]

Well done! Only the fourth time Button has made the front row. Is this his year at last?

 

[foghorn67]

That is really interesting. might have to catch the race somehow.
(I don't have Speed Channel, America's only way of watching a GP race.)
Perhaps the BT gods will be kind this week.

 

[punjabiplaya]

Lewis's gearbox broke and he took a penalty and is at the back of the pack. God I hope there is some overtaking.

 

[Pollock]

Totally forgot about this, but I've got it set to record now! Should definitely prove to be interesting.

 

[LTC8K6]

Boy are those cars ugly...

KERS battery is only good for one race and then disposed of?

 

[punjabiplaya]

What a great race. Finally see something other than Ferrari and McLaren. Too bad for Kubica and Vettel. It's just so funny to see the Brawn GP car because it's naked (other than the Virgin logo). I didn't know about the new tire compound regulations, but it all seems to have really made the racing closer.

 

[LTC8K6]

Closer except for the 2 Brawn cars...

 

[LTC8K6]

Hamilton got very lucky and ended up 4th. McClaren was not sandbagging and neither was Ferrari. Neither were very good, but Ferrari was better than McLaren.

Kovaleinen crashed early.

Massa and Raikkonen went out early, with a suspension failure and a crash.

No one could touch Brawn.

Toyota and Red Bull were good.

 

[DivideBYZero]

I cannot agree with the Ferrari being better than the McLaren. They stayed in the same positions up until they were either taken out or put it in the wall. The McLaren on the other hand started at the back and came in fourth.

Teams to watch are Toyota, Red Bull, BMW and of course Brawn. The traditional 'top' teams are on the back foot this year, which is great!

 

[GoatMonkey]

Didn't it seem like they skipped a ton of the normal coverage? What''s up with that?

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: punjabiplaya
What a great race. Finally see something other than Ferrari and McLaren. Too bad for Kubica and Vettel. It's just so funny to see the Brawn GP car because it's naked (other than the Virgin logo). I didn't know about the new tire compound regulations, but it all seems to have really made the racing closer.

Agreed. Loved the race. Lots of excitement and it is good to see a small team like Brawn GP finish so well.

 

[ballmode]

right when honda sold it too

 

[Pollock]

Originally posted by: ballmode
right when honda sold it too

My thoughts, too. But it's good for Button to finally get a win after so many years.

Also, Kubica = Could've gone a bit better.

 

[punjabiplaya]

I wonder if they will allow the diffuser loophole stuff to continue. Massa thinks that Brawn will win the championship.

edit: I wanna see Branson do a lap in the Brawn

 

[SludgeFactory]

Reminds me a lot of 1994, when you had massive rule changes, and Benetton (with Ross Brawn) leapfrogged the top 2 teams and dominated the first half of the year.

Let's see how fast the big boys can get new diffusers in place.

 

[LTC8K6]

Probably won't see new diffusers for a bit because they are far away from their bases for these first 3 races. Makes it harder for them to work on changes to the cars.

So is it the car or the driver?

Mclaren and Ferrari look to be in deep trouble compared to last year. However, they also have the budgets to get changes made.

Hamilton should play the lottery with that kind of luck.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: LTC8K6
Probably won't see new diffusers for a bit because they are far away from their bases for these first 3 races. Makes it harder for them to work on changes to the cars.

So is it the car or the driver?

Mclaren and Ferrari look to be in deep trouble compared to last year. However, they also have the budgets to get changes made.

Hamilton should play the lottery with that kind of luck.

It's always the car and the support crew

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: LTC8K6
Probably won't see new diffusers for a bit because they are far away from their bases for these first 3 races. Makes it harder for them to work on changes to the cars.

So is it the car or the driver?

Mclaren and Ferrari look to be in deep trouble compared to last year. However, they also have the budgets to get changes made.

Hamilton should play the lottery with that kind of luck.

Hamilton really had a great drive. Starting in what was it? 12? And finishing in 3rd?

He had some help from Vettel, Kubica and both Ferrari's of course.

Rubens Barrichello made a good point about the new diffusers I thought because his was damaged in the first corner mayhem but he was still able to come up through the field and finish second.

 

[LTC8K6]

Hamilton was awarded third after Trulli was demoted to 12th.

Hamilton started last on the grid, 18th I believe, and crossed the line in 4th. Trulli Started from pit lane, I believe.

Vettel got a 10 place grid penalty for the next race, and a big fine.

 

[LTC8K6]

I'm 100% certain that I saw Hamilton pass Vettel under the SC...

Vettel's car was crippled, but he was making decent speed under the SC, and other cars remained behind him.

 

[LTC8K6]

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/3/9097.html

Sounds like the arbitrariness of the rulings hasn't changed much.

 

[aleckz]

Last leg of the race and Redbull car made a stupid decision D: It was a pretty good race, grats to the Brawn-Merecedes crew!