Lewis is Back

Hooray! Lewis Hamilton is back.

Despite the numerous molecules that have dodged Hamilton’s dire season seems to be a distance thing of the past. He surpassed all expectations and realities to lead and win the Hungarian Grand Prix in such dominant and frantic fashion.

All through his led there was the sneaky suspicion that he was on a verge (it’s known to happen) of a fatal mistake that would epitomise his tough season once again. But gladly there was no choke, no mistake and signs of the rekindling Brit yesterday was a breath of fresh air.

Rightly fellow Brit Jenson Button has been taken all the plaudits this season and
Hamilton has been portrayed more of a villain than a nation hero for much of it but this win will bring an awe of optimism for driver, as well as McLaren, to propel himself to start challenging the leaders.

Although it’s not a result that they can get carried away with but the signs that Hamilton, who once was the icon of so many, can right his wrongs.

It does seem decades ago that Hamilton took his spot at the spearhead of the podium but now he might get that winning feeling back again. This is also Martin Whitmarsh’s first win as team boss, after replacing Ron Dennis, and he will earmark this victory as his finest he has ever witnessed after his team has been dragged through so much this year.

From Liegate to the controversy in Malaysia, McLaren has been through it all. Coming to Hungary was big, after the significant updates to his dwindling MP4-24 model at Germany, it was time to show why he’s still the current World Championship and he duly did.

This is arguably his finest victory, his 10th and best. It was Lewis’ first victory since China last season, and his emotional exploits have been missed, Button is animated but it’s not with the exuberance that Hamilton shows.

Button was hoping for much more in his Brawn but Lewis’ victory helped his fellow Brit out. Keeping the Red Bull’s at bay is what he did and as the season heads into its second half, Lewis could become Button’s biggest ally.

Lewis, on the other hand, can leave Budapest Hungary (Sorry) for more.

Jenson wins with ease

Sometimes things come far too easily.

Jenson Button stormed to victory in Monaco with utter ease; his dominance reflects the sport as a whole at the moment – unexplainable and very surprising. As teams discussed and argued about the budget cap, Brawn showed that money doesn’t always get you success.

Button was not even going to have a drive this year but now he is leading the way as Brawn GP show that they are far superior to anyone else in the field and that’s without the elusive funds that some teams can boost.

Even team boss Ross Brawn is surprised how well Jenson is doing. He told the BBC, “I’m lost for words about him [Button] because he’s exceeding everything I thought possible. Stunning. “

And there is no surprises if Jenson goes on to dominate the rest of the season, no one seems to be getting close. This was Button’s fifth win out of sixth and only four other drivers have done that, Michael Schumacher and Juan Manuel Fangio being two of them.

The glitz and glamour was on show at Monaco, the star names packed in to watch the biggest race on the F1 calendar but the race itself failed to live up to any of the expectation that was hoped for. In fact, it was rather dull.

Jenson’s partner Rubens Barrichello came in second place and it was another 1-2 finish for Ross Brawn and his team.

There was some good news for Ferrari or bad news if you like any other team, Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa finished third and fourth respectively as the team looks if it has improved significantly. The team said they could really push on and challenge, let’s hope that’s not true.

World Champion Lewis Hamilton, who won here in the wet last year, finished a miserable 12th after his mistake in qualifying and a change in gearbox meant he started at the back of the grid. It was a wasted opportunity for the Brit as this is his track and it’s also a track that McLaren do normally perform well.

He simply never got going and the team tactics did not master the expertises of Brawn, starting at the back he could have started in the pit lane with a full load of petrol and be out for longer. But this wasn’t the case as the McLaren crisis continues to suffer.

Red Bull had a mixed weekend, wonder kid Sebastian Vettel unfortunately crashed out and Australian Mark Webber finished a very respectable fifth spot as they look to get some, if any, pressure on the Brawn team.

Williams’ Nico Rosberg, Renault’s Fernando Alonso and Toro Rosso’s Sebastian Boundais filled the remaining point's places.

King Jenson of Spain

Jenson is the King of Spain, well Formula 1’s king in Spain at the time being.

There is no stopping the Brit.

He shows no indication that he is going to slow down, winning a drug and he is hooked.

This was his fourth win out of five and if Bernie E-man had his way, Button would have the title more or less wrapped up already.

Jenson would have four shiny gold medals to Sebastian Vettel’s one but fortunately, there is still points and the season is far from over.

Rubens Barrichello is still providing great support for F1’s favourite son. He finished second to give Brawn GP another 1-2 finish on their debut season, this one was again down to perfect tactics that ousted their rivals.

Mark Webber finished strongly and put the Bahrain disappointment firmly behind him.

His podium shows how good Red Bull can be, with Ferrari and McLaren failing to find form or a competitive car it will be up to Red Bull to challenge Brawn GP for top honours.

Teammate Vettel ended fourth with Ferrari’s Felipe Massa holding him up in the final laps to stop his pursuit for a podium.

The Brazilian finished sixth to double Ferrari’s points for the season while teammate Kimi Raikkonen limped out after 17 laps.

Home favourite Fernando Alonso couldn’t find any heroics in his homeland but his spirited late drive landed him fifth place to much delight to his fans.

BMW Sauber’s Nick Heidfeld and Williams’ Nico Rosberg finished seventh and eighth
respectively picking up the remaining points.

Lying Lewis finished ninth as McLaren showed no improved updates, he even admits that his car ‘has no hope’.

But what made this race rather exciting was the opening lap where everything kicked off. Jarno Trulli, Sebastien Buemi, Sebastien Bourdais and Ardian Sutli all crashed out after the first corner bringing out a safety car for all the refuge to be cleared.

Trulli flew off the track at turn two before coming back on to the racing line that made him to collide with the two Toro Rosso cars and that caused havoc. Trulli should have had more sense; his mistake should not punish others. He should had held back and moved onto the track when it would be more safely to do so.

Circuit de Catalunya is a fine track and it was the only the fifth time that a safety car had to be introduced in 18 years.

But once again this weekend belonged to Jenson as he continues his perfect season.

The German stops Brits Supremacy

This season just gets better and better.
Jenson slips and a German takes all the glory. Sebastian Vettel is enhancing is ever growing stature as one of the better drivers in F1.

His stunning victory was wholly deserved and it gave Red Bull their biggest day in
F1 so far. And on this form, Vettel looks like he will be adding to his two modest race victories.

Ozzy Mark Webber finished second to make it a 1-2 for Red Bull to make it a weekend
to remember for the British based team.

Jenson finished third after the safety car was forever interrupting the race.

Brawn’s strategy was not key in this race as it was very difficult to determine an outcome with such horrendous conditions. Partner Rubens Barrichello finished fourth to keep Brawn GP in the points.

Brawn went with heavy fuel loads, as they knew they had the pace, but the speed of the Red Bull’s surprised everyone.

Poor visibility played a huge role in the races outcome; Renault’s Fernando Alonso began up top as his produced a majestic qualifying lap on light fuel. But that strategy was useless with the race starting with the safety car and he finished outside the points in ninth.

McLaren look relatively back on track with a vast improvement on previous races.

However disappointingly Lewis Hamilton may have seen this as a missed opportunity.

He is, by far, the best-wet conditions driver out there and the floods on the track could have played him well. He finished sixth, whilst partner Heikki Kovalainen managed to complete a lap, what he had failed to do this season, and he finished an impressive fifth.

Ferrari’s season just keeps getting better and better, Felipe Massa out after 20 laps and Kimi Raikkenon outside the points once again down in 10th. They predict that they are going to hit some good form. I definitely hope not.

Pole seems essential this season; this was the third consecutive race that the driver in pole won the race.

Let us see who claims pole in Bahrain.

Good Day for Brits

Brits lead the way again, and this time, in the Chinese Grand Prix.

Lying Lewis showed that there might be some honesty left in him after all as he clocked the fastest lap time in the first practice session in what looks to be a legitimate car.

Although dropping down to 13th in the Second Practice session, he would be encouraged by the new set of his McLaren. The car is sporting a new front wing and a new interim diffuser.

Joyful Jenson, once again, submitted the fastest time of the day. His Brawn GP car didn’t suffer any penalties for the use of rear diffusers that was contested earlier on in the week.

So, the primary focus is still on Brawn and his racing team as they have continually produced result after result, as Button’s partner Rubens Barrichello was third fastest.

Their dominance is still there as Button goes in search for his third consecutive win.

The Brawn’s were only split by the impressive Nico Rosberg in the ever-improving Williams car.

Ferrari’s dismal start to the season gladly continues, Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen both suffered tyre problems and the disappearing act off the KERS system seems to have no effect. They have also not used their energy storage system in an attempt to reinitiate their spiralling championship charge.

Raikkonen struggled to find grip and was often found practicing on the grass.
The Red-Bull Renault pair Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel produced that they can compete at the top being the fourth and fifth quickest respectively.

Hamilton’s teammate Heikki Kovalainen ended up ninth fastest of the day as he looks to hit some form.

Brit Rule in Rain

Britain may be known for its rain; just as well, that Button was the man to take glory in a much rain affected Malaysian Grand Prix.

This was Button’s second win on the bounce; however, this was more of a hard fought victory compared to the hugely convincing win at Australia.

Button recovered from a bad start, where he dropped to fourth from pole, to win the Grand Prix after the race was abandoned due to torrential rain.

The Stewards and the FIA made the right decision in calling the race off early due to the heavy rain and the poor visibility.

BMW Sauber’s Nick Heidfeld was second ahead of Toyota’s Timo Glock to complete the podium.

Lying Lewis crept up to seventh to claim his first legitimate points of the season, well we will see.

In a surprising twist, the top eight will only receive half points to make the World Champion board look rather odd.

It was particular good to see common sense prevail for once as safety, and not entertainment, was the prime focus. The introduction of the red flag on lap 51 was welcomed, as it was clear that the race would not fulfil its allotted time.

Malaysia continued the dominance shown by Brawn GP this season and Button remains pinnacle of that.

Despite his poor start, where Williams’s Nico Rosberg, Toyota’s Jarno Trulli and Renault’s Fernando Alonso all sped past him, Button had the control and the speed to reclaim top spot with some impressive manoeuvres.

However, it was the strategy Ross Brawn implemented secured the victory. Button reaped the rewards when staying out for an extra two laps and producing the fastest laps of the Grand Prix. He made the most of that extra fuel that was on board to dazzling effect.

From then on, it was clear that there was only going to be one winner. When other cars were pouring into the pits to stick on the extreme wets, Button established a lead of 18 seconds, all by lap 26. This showed how ruthless Button could be when he is in the position to do just that.

It adds to his character that he is disciplined enough to handle a fast car in horrendous conditions.

Moreover, Ferrari’s poor season got from bad to worse. But don’t smile about it for too long; they will come good eventually.

Kimi Raikkonen, who showed good form in qualifying, was put on extreme wets too early and this caused him to finish 14th. With Felipe Massa finishing outside the points, the reigning constructor’s champions now sit last.

But this weekend, again, belonged to Button.

Keep those Brits proud, Jenson.

A Brit to be Proud off

Whilst one Brit is the butt of a nation, his fellow compatriot is taking all the plaudits.

Jenson Button claimed his second pole in a row whilst last year’s British F1 hero Lewis Hamilton looks a soulless withering sore loser in 12th spot. And it is what he deserves.

It could be easily forgotten that F1 fans around the world saw in bemusement as Lewis Hamilton took the World Championship in such dramatic fashion last November.

Now Lying Lewis is more of a pest than anything else, he has lost a lot of respect this week.

British favourite Button drove brilliantly in qualifying and Malaysia is set to be an exciting race.

He took pole position but only just, Toyota’s Jarno Trulli took second, a tenth of a second behind Button, and is ahead of teammate Timo Glock who will start in third.

Glock did move up two places since Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel was reprehended for his collision with BMW’s Robert Kubica at last weekend’s Australian Grand Prix that cost him 10 places and Brawn’s Rubens Barrichello, who was docked five places due to a change of gearbox on Friday, will start in ninth.

Felipe Massa continued his miserable spell as he starts in 16th. Partner Kimi Raikkonen drove with more conviction and he lasted until the last stage of qualifying, he will start seventh.

Williams’s Nico Rosberg, who was the quickest in Saturday’s final practice session, and will begin in fourth ahead of Mark Webber.
But this session once again belonged to Brawn GP and more specifically Jenson Button.

Hopefully, next week’s discussions will be about the positive aspects of Formula 1 rather than the negatives.

So next week, no lies, no cheats, no talk of the possible ill-use of rear diffusers (Appeal is soon), just pure, sheer, adrenaline pumping Formula Motoring Racing.

Please.

Sensational Button!

Jenson, you’ve done it! You beauty!
He won the first Grand Prix of 2009. Well we did expect him to, didn’t we?

My neighbours would have not been happy as joyful high-pitched screeches as early as 730 would have probably woken them up. But it doesn’t matter, Button you were definitely worth it.

The Brit is back and loving it, many thought, including me that he went off the boil when decided to devour many glamorous women, and had a poor habit of showcasing big ridiculous sunglasses in public.

Although the glasses are still there, and probably the women too, he looked a man obsessed, loving what he is doing. So much enthusiasm was evident as he took all the glory in what must be Ross Brawn’s proudest victory. Just over three weeks ago, this team never existed but what a breath of fresh air they are.

Button always threatened to throw a match on previous Honda cars but he is in a car now that he should be proud off, it suits his driving style to a tee and it definitely showed.

Button was not the only successful Brit as POMs ruled once again in Melbourne. Lewis Hamilton’s win last year was followed by a lucky shunt up to third at Jarno Trulli’s expense. But this podium symbolised so much more for the World Champion.

It had the essence of a true Champion drive, already knowing that he didn’t have the sheer pace to keep up, Hamilton solely relied on textbook methods to keep himself competitive. He attacked when the time was right and defended properly when he needed too.

It is the massive indication yet that he has matured with his racing. Lewis was even gracious and very much surprised that he took as many points and well done to him.

McLaren needs to improve and quick. Perhaps a rear diffuser could come in useful.

Nevertheless, this day belonged to Button and to his second win in F1. And on this form, he will add to that. The vastly experienced Rubens Barrichello came in second to give Brawn GP a 1-2 finish on their debut, the first time that has happened since 1954.

I was a little disappointed to see a German and Pole in conflict once again. But instead of drawing arms, they decided to batter each other’s car instead.

Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel showed great form and looked set on a decent finish but he paid the price when he gave BMW’s Robert Kubica time to catch up. They locked wheels and both retired a lap later after colliding. They are still two very young drivers that still have a lot to learn, they have massive careers in front of them.

To top the day off, Ferrari failed to do anything. Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen retired early on to make it an all round perfect weekend for the British viewer.

Roll on Malaysia!

Brawn Again

Jenson has done it, the widely acclaimed favourite to win here in Australia has taken pole with team mate Barrichello completing the front row.

Brawn GP were simply sensational on their debut, backing up their initial practice and qualifying promise to take a surprise lead in F1.

Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel and BMW Sauber’s Robert Kubica will make up the second role.

World Champion Lewis was left in the dust with a 15th position out of 20 as McLaren continued their dismal form. Lack of drive in the gearbox was blamed for a lack of speed. It looks very likely that he won’t win here tomorrow like he did in his Championship winning season.

Brawn GP pole position is a first for a brand new team since Scotland’s Jackie Stewart for Tyrrell at the Canadian GP in 1970.

And now the team has the backing of Sir Richard Branson’s money to fulfil their promise throughout the season. The team will soon be named Virgin BGP 001.

The top end of the field was two tenths of a second and shows early indication how close the race could be.

Let us hope for a thriller.