[SPOILER] 2009 Australian GP

[blue8]

Welcome to the 2009 Formula 1 Season!
(Ok I'm a little late)

2009 ING Australian Grand Prix
Qualifying Results:

Times
01 J. Button Brawn GP 1:26.202
02 R. Barrichello Brawn GP 1:26.505
03 S. Vettel Red Bull 1:26.830
04 R. Kubica BMW 1:26.914
05 N. Rosberg Williams 1:26.973
06 T. Glock Toyota 1:26.975
07 F. Massa Ferrari 1:27.033
08 J. Trulli Toyota 1:27.127
09 K. Räikkönen Ferrari 1:27.163
10 M. Webber Red Bull 1:27.246
11 N. Heidfeld BMW 1:25.504
12 F. Alonso Renault 1:25.605
13 K. Nakajima Williams 1:25.607
14 H. Kovalainen McLaren 1:25.726
15 L. Hamilton McLaren no time
16 S. Buemi Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:26.503
17 N. Piquet jr. Renault 1:26.598
18 G. Fisichella Force India F1 1:26.677
19 A. Sutil Force India F1 1:26.742
20 S. Bourdais Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:26.964

Update: Lewis Hamilton will start the race in 18th after a gearbox change triggered a grid-slot demotion of five places. The McLaren has since been 'promoted' from 20th to 18th following the exclusion of both Toyotas from qualifying due to a technical infringement. (Planet F1)


Very surprising qualifying results but not so much if you were following the practice sessions before the season started. Still, who would have expected Brawn GP to do so well when just several weeks ago the team wasn't guaranteed to participate in the season. World Champion Hamilton starting at 18th? Who would have thought?

Melbourne isn't exactly the best indicator of how the season will turn out, but the race will definitely be one to watch with all the new rules and regulations in place. Remember how the drivers initially struggled with the loss of traction control last year at the opening race? Only 7 managed to survive that race. I expect it's more difficult for the drivers this years.

Here's to an exciting and unpredictable season!

[Mattk]

I'm not surprised Brawn GP are doing well already. This car has been in development for some time back in the Honda days and they were doing pretty well last year. There may be some reliability issues, though, although their engine is mainly McLaren technology. Not much to worry about. I think Vettel and Kubica will be ones to watch out for this season.

[blue8]

Here's something new to the season which I just found out: the FIA will be releasing the weights of all cars as they start each race

Weightings:
1. Jenson Button 664.5kg
2. Rubens Barrichello 666.5kg
3. Sebastien Vettel 657kg
4. Robert Kubica 650kg
5. Nico Rosberg 657kg
6. Felipe Massa 654kg
7. Kimi Raikkonen 655.5kg
8. Mark Webber 662kg
9. Nick Heidfeld 691.5kg
10. Fernando Alonso 680.7kg
11. Kazuki Nakajima 680.5kg
12. Heikki Kovalainen 690.6kg
13. Sebastien Buemi 675.5kg
14. Nelson Piquet 694.1kg
15. Giancarlo Fisichella 689kg
16. Adrian Sutil 684.5kg
17. Sebastien Bourdais 662.5kg
18. Lewis Hamilton 655kg
19. Jarno Trulli 660kg
20. Timo Glock 670kg

[5vz-fe]

Who would have thought 1 month ago that BrawnGP will make it 1 2 in first race

Damn....this season is a complete reshuffle.

[zeus_2011]

Who would have thought it 1 week ago!!! Well done to them!

[Mattk]

A great result for Brawn GP, and also Jarno Trulli. The top three drivers have all been regarded as past their prime but they beat out former world champions Hamilton, Raikonnen and Alonso, as well as challengers such as Kubica and Massa.

[blue8]

Provisional Race Results:

Pos Driver Team Time
1. Button Brawn GP (B) 1h34:15.784
2. Barrichello Brawn GP (B) + 0.807
3. Trulli Toyota (B) + 1.604
4. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) + 2.914
5. Glock Toyota (B) + 4.435
6. Alonso Renault (B) + 4.879
7. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) + 5.722
8. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) + 6.004
9. Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) + 6.298
10. Sutil Force India-Ferrari (B) + 6.335
11. Heidfeld BMW Sauber (B) + 7.085
12. Fisichella Force India-Ferrari (B) + 7.374
13. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) + 1 lap
14. Vettel Red Bull-Renault (B) + 2 laps
15. Kubica BMW Sauber (B) + 3 laps
16. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) + 3 laps

UPDATE: Trulli penalized

Lewis Hamilton has been promoted to third place at the Australian GP after Jarno Trulli was penalised. Trulli's third place was put under investigation after the Italian regained his position overtaking Hamilton during a safety car period, having run off the track when the SC was on track. Both drivers were summoned to see the race stewards following the incident and it was decided to give Trulli a 25-second penalty which moves him outside of the points finish. Toyota confirmed its intention to appeal the decision.

[Mattk]

Seems like a dodgy decision. No overtaking is allowed when the safety car is on track, so Trulli was simply getting back into third place after Hamilton had overtaken him.

[blue8]

^Hamilton probably gained P3 when Trulli ran off-track, not by overtaking him (?)

More news: Vettel penalized for next GP

Sebastian Vettel has been given a 10-place grid penalty for the Malaysian Grand Prix next weekend following his clash with Robert Kubica in Melbourne. Vettel crashed with BMW Sauber's Kubica with three laps to go when the Pole tried to overtake him around the outside. Both men were forced to retire later on. The German driver's Red Bull team was also fined $50,000 for instructing Vettel to stay on track despite running on three wheels.

On a side note, Mario Theissen was confident that, had Kubica overtaken Vettel, he would have won the race as Button was also struggling with the soft tyres and lapping around 3 seconds slower. Fighting for P1 during the last 3 laps would have been nice to watch! Anyways, congrats to Brawn GP for the result!

[SHIZL]

the race was good these cars create close racing what they were looking for in my eyes so far, like said quality driving from the back of the pack by trullli,hamo and glock some luck too. vettel and kubica i hope vettel confidence isnt hurt much by it was a racing incedent more his fault in my eyes. ferrari any reports out of that team dont know what happend to massa(fix it again tony)and kimi ran out of talent again.ferrari looked good in race trim. big picture what happens with diffuser3 if banned do points race win go to hamo and mclaren or do they keep them,or do every other team start using one.Like i said i thought the racing was closer than ive seen with these cars i enjoyed it cant wait to see if vettel gets a diffuser

[5vz-fe]

Ferrari must be kicking themselves not keeping Brawn

[sprakzilla]

damn vettel took out kubica on the last lap.

[mts6800]

Originally Posted by blue8 More news: Vettel penalized for next GP On a side note, Mario Theissen was confident that, had Kubica overtaken Vettel, he would have won the race as Button was also struggling with the soft tyres and lapping around 3 seconds slower. Fighting for P1 during the last 3 laps would have been nice to watch! Anyways, congrats to Brawn GP for the result!

I think there is some fair argument about it being an avoidable accident, (the reason for the 10 spot grid penalty). I felt Vettel was clearly giving way to Kubica, perhaps a bit too late, but also Kubica should have gone a little wider in the corner to avoid being taken out.

Vettel moved over, got on the bumpy stuff, had he moved over more his car would have become a projectile guaranteed to take out Kubica.

A little wider and likely Kubica would have been able to race those last 3 laps and find out if Mario Theissen was right. In any event, could've, should've, would've don't affect anything, just get on with it and do better next race.

Sebastian Vettel: “We were in second and a strong position, but then, a couple of laps from the end, I had a stupid racing accident with Robert,” explained Vettel. “At the time I turned in I was ahead, but I couldn't keep up speed in the corner and Robert was on a harder tyre, so was much quicker. At the time we collided he was in front, but I had no where to go, I couldn't stop the car, or turn to the right and my tyres were gone.

Given Vettel's account, was it an avoidable accident, or incident?

Red Bull deserved the fine for not getting Vettel off the track, it seems they didn't know the regulations, now they do, well, education costs money and now they are educated

Big thanks to blue8 for bringing these threads back.

Congrats also to Brawn GP for showing that the impossible, is not.

Originally Posted by 5vz-fe Ferrari must be kicking themselves not keeping Brawn

Ferrari didn't have a choice, Ross Brawn wanted to take a leave and did. After his rest he got an offer from Honda and the rest is, now, just more history.

[Mattk]

I think it's rather unfair on Vettel. He was clearly ahead going into the corner. Kubica should've gone wider and waited for the next chance. It wasn't dissimilar from the Barrichello/Webber incident, where Barrichello on the inside ploughed into Webber immediately outside him in turn one, precipitating all manner or carnage.

[5vz-fe]

Originally Posted by mts6800 Ferrari didn't have a choice, Ross Brawn wanted to take a leave and did. After his rest he got an offer from Honda and the rest is, now, just more history.

Brawn gave Ferrari first choice before taking on Honda's offer. Todt didn't want to give Brawn his position (Head of F1)

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/58452