BRAWN-Y WINNERS Jenson Button and Reubens Barrichello from Brawn GP took the top two positions in Spain

By Derryn Wong
¬
ON POLE ONCE again and seemingly destined to take the victory was Jenson Button – the past nine pole-sitters have all gone on to the top step of the podium at the Circuit de Catalunya in Spain.

However as the lights went out, it was Barrichello who got the drop on Button and lead the pack into the first turn. Down the order were a few more surprises – Felipe Massa’s KERS-boost launched him into third place, with the Red Bulls of Vettel and Webber rounding out the top five.

Kimi Räikkönen also had a good run despite his qualifying-glitch – he made tenth down from a lowly 16th position but then met the equally KERS-laden mobile chicane that was Nick Heidfeld’s BMW, while the other world champion Hamilton languished in fourteenth.

Disaster struck though, as Williams’ Nico Rosberg jostled for position with the rest of the mid-pack on the opening: given Barcelona’s tight esses leave even less room for interpretation of a racing line than most other tracks, it was bound to end in tears.

He shook Trulli off the circuit, who conserved momentum and kept the car straight, only to be taken out when Force India’s Sutil had nowhere else to go. Behind them the two Toro Rossos of Buemi and Bourdais suffered a similar fate.

The safety car came out for five laps and thus was sown the seeds of Button’s victory: initially on a three stop strategy the team switched him to a two-stop one, while keeping Barrichello on the three-stopper.

Eventually when it all panned out, Button seemed to have the speed even while heavily-laden and finished 13 seconds ahead of his team mate. Despite Ross Brawn’s statements contrariwise, Barrichello, who thought he had the race in the bag, summarily warned post-race that he would be no one’s number two.

The Bulls, who seemed to have the fastest car when fuel-corrected for weight, had to contend with less this time round. Vettel spent most of the race stuck behind Massa’s Ferrari who only slowed to let him (and Alonso) by on danger of running out of fuel thanks to (yet another) Ferrari error.

Mark Webber enjoyed a brilliant podium. His early first pit stop and longer middle stint vaulted him past the feuding pair while a tough move on Alonso down at turn one on the restart ensured him third place.

Formula One travels next to the Principality, where the tight street circuit always throws up surprises. Expect to see a lot more KERS-ing in that race and with the Brawns not at their peak in qualifying, perhaps a wild car winner.

Next Race: Monaco Grand Prix, May 22-24