Brawn GP News

It’s a hot day in Spain and the Grand Prix is due to start soon.  It’s set to be an exciting race, while the two Brawns are in 1st and 2nd they are running lighter fuel than the Red Bulls.  Also Massa is up in forth with the Ferrari, with the KER’s boost button which could be key on the start line.

The BBC are backing Sebastian Vettel for the win, but here at Brawn GP News, we would love to see Rubens take first place!

The Race

At 1pm UK time the cars are released for their formation lap, before this 66 lap race.

All the cars form up and the five lights come on then go out and the race is go.  Barrichello takes Button for the first corner and Massa is up to 3rd but then a big crash behind involving Trulli, Sutil and both Toro Rosso’s which brings out the safety car.

A poor start for Hamilton, starting in 14th he took to the grass on the start straight.

The safety car comes in on lap 5 and as the cars restart the Brawns get well ahead of Massa in the Ferrari.

Kovalainen retires on lap 9 with an apparent drive failure, Hamilton is now up to 12th but the Brawn’s are pulling away with Button and Barrichello trading fastest race laps.

On Lap 18 Timo Glock is the first to make a scheduled pit stop.  On the next lap Jenson Button pits from second with a 5 second lead on Massa.

On the same lap Kimi Raikkonen slows to a crawl, with the engine just ticking over and retires.

Lap 19 and Barrichello pits from 1st along with Webber in 4th.  Massa now takes the lead but is yet to pit.

Lap 20 am both Massa and Vettel pit.  They return to the track and Barrichello has retaken 1st place with Button in 3rd behind Rosberg who is yet to pit.

We believe Barrichello is 3 stopping while Jenson Button is only taking 2 stops for fuel.  Barrichello must push now to pull out a strong lead to give space to pit and still come back out with track position.

Lap 31 and Barrichello pits, he has a 13.5 second lead to Jenson Button.  He makes a 6.7 second stop and returns to the track in 4th.  He can’t afford to get held up now as this stint will be crucial if he is to three stop and still take the pole.

On Lap 43 Vettel and Massa put, the same lap again.  Massa comes out first maintaining his position ahead of Vettel.

lap 48 and Jenson Button Pits, he has a strong lead of 36 seconds on Massa (the next car to have already stopped twice).  Barrichello takes the lead from Jenson and must now pull out as much of a lead as possible if he is to keep it after his third stop.  Button rejoins in 3rd but Webber in second has only stopped once.

Lap 50 and Barrichello pits.  He rejoins in 2nd to Button. Now all the front runners have made their expected stops so its flat out to the finish with 16 laps to go.  The order is Button, Barrichello, Webber, Massa, Vettel.

Lap 55 and Massa could be in trouble, he doesn’t have enough fuel to race to the end of the race and must conserve fuel.  Vettel knows this and is pushing for 4th.

Lap 61 and Vettel passes Massa for 4th.  Massa has a 17 second lead on 6th place Alonso and is now coasting for the last five laps to try and conserve fuel to finish.

Webber in 3rd is right up behind Barrichello with 3 laps to go.

Jenson Button crosses the line for 1st place and Rubens Barrichello goes 2nd for a Brawn 1,2.

Alonso takes 5th from Massa who finishes in 6th.

Full results

1. BUTTON Brawn         

2.  BARRICHELLO Brawn +13.0s

3. WEBBER Red Bull +13.9s

4. VETTEL Red Bull +18.9s

5.  ALONSO Renault +43.1s

6. MASSA Ferrari +50.8s

7. HEIDFELD BMW +52.3s

8.  ROSBERG Williams +65.2s

9. HAMILTON McLaren +1 lap
10. GLOCK Toyota +1 lap

11. KUBICA BMW +1 lap

12. PIQUET Renault +1 lap

13. NAKAJIMA Williams +1 lap

14. FISICHELLA Force India +1 lap

R.  RAIKKONEN Ferrari +49 laps

R.  KOVALAINEN   McLaren       +59 laps

R.  TRULLI  Toyota +66 laps

R.  BUEMI Toro Rosso +66 laps

R.  BOURDAIS Toro Rosso +66 laps

R.  SUTIL Force India +66 laps

Fastest lap: BARRICHELLO  1m22.762s (lap 28)