BrawnGP

Aug 31, 2009

Spa Disappointment

I have to drag myself to write this. The same  old feeling during the Honda era, where for every new race, there are high hopes and when the race started and ended, it's all false hopes and lots of disappointment.

Ok, enough of the bad mood. I have been with Honda for a long time and this feeling is all too familiar that it should have been dilluted.

Button ended his race with just 1 lap at Spa. Barrichello had all the chance to get to the first position but his engine stalled when the red lights gone off.

Barrichello was in last place when he was able to regain the car from the stall. He was able to quickly overtake few cars but later it was all a mess. Button, Hamilton, that new guys Grosjean.. are all involved in accident. Button car was fine, but he was unable get off the grass.

Barrichello was quickly pit stop when safety car was out and change strategy. Barrichello was able to keep ovetaking and stay out for quite a long time before his next stop.

In the end, he was able to salvage 2 points. But, BrawnGP was almost losing that 2 points had Barrichello was too aggressive when attacking Kovaleinan. Barrichello was having lots of smoke at the back of his car with 2 laps remaining. His engineer told him to back off otherwise the engine would have blown.

In the end, his car was caught fire but he was over the chequered flag. It was a relieved. Though everything seems a mess,  there are positives from this race. Button gap only cut by 2 points and Barrichello gained 2 points to maintain that 2nd position and closer to Button. On to the next race at Imola.

Aug 27, 2009

Spa Preview

World Championship is getting closer as another round of F1 race coming fast. Tomorrow will be the qualifying for the Spa-Francorchamps, and we all know that in Spa, anything can happen.

It's a race not like any other race where the surrounding is forests and hills. The scenery here is a beauty, it makes drivers feel close to nature.

The fact that the circuit span 7 km in length, it's one of the longest 1 lap a driver can drive, which in a way, the condition of weather and the track can be different at different segments. In previous races on this track, a side of the circuit was raining and 1 side of it was dry.

That's why it's so unpredictable and Button and other drivers know this and always be ready for it when it happens.

Barrichello, boayant  from previous race is so eager to get even closer to Button as the gap is getting narrower. And now, it's uncertained if Button can win the title or not since Barrichello is charging.

Aug 26, 2009

Pundits on Button

I think it is a bit of unfair when they (the pundits) were saying about Button loss of form. We all know that previous few races except the last race, it was the car which was not in top condition.

It's true Button should have done better in Valencia because the car is back! He was having a bad start and he was playing it safe, but I think it's inevitable because  had he been too aggressive he would not even have gained the 2 points over Red Bull.

But I agree that starting from next race, he has to put the hammer down and show what he is made of.

Races are coming thick and fast and anything can change in few races. Barrichello can even be closer to Button. Anyway, I'm happy with both cars doing well. Go BrawnGP Go!

Aug 23, 2009

BrawnGP is Back!

BrawnGP is back to it's best. Top spot for Barrichello, and he has done superbly well, congratulation to him. Finally he got the first win under BrawnGP in Valencia. Fantastic, the feeling is so intense and it hasn't been the same, because most of the time Button was taking the spotlight.

I felt he deserved it although it's hamilton pit stop was screwed up big time that let him leapfrogged Hamilton. Even if Hamilton did not screw up I feel it will be a close battle.

Button did not start well, I thought he should be handled the 4th spot because Vettel had a change engine and should be penalised 10 spots. Anywhere, it was one of the worst start I have seen him under BrawnGP. From 5th spot down to 9th.

He was struggling at the beginning, gradually found his way back and in the end managed to salvage 2 points from 7th position. Thanks to the masterstroke of Ross Brawn because Button opted for the pit stop while Webber was bottled up by a car in front of him. In the end when Webber pitted, Button passed him. What a move!

I feel Button car is not as bad as the finishing position, because he was badly bottled up at the middle of the pack. In the end, I think BGP001 car is back to it's best and able to challenge for top place and podium.

Aug 22, 2009

BrawnGP Did Well in Qualifying

BrawnGP is finally back to their previous best? Looking at the pace of the BrawnGP BGP001 car, it seems the team had found the problem with the car.

Barrichello was exceptionally fast in qualifying. In the practice session and qualifying Barrichello seems to have the edge over Button. Both times he had been quicker than Button.

Although in the end of qualifying, Barrichello and Button got P3 and P4 respectively, it's McLaren which had over the couple of races found their best level thus the P1 and P2 performance.

But we will need to find out the fuel load between the 2 teams, but obviously BrawnGP has marked improvement in this weekend race. Barring any misfortune, we should be able to get a podium place for at least 1 of the BrawnGP car.

Aug 20, 2009

BrawnGP Optimistic

BrawnGP is optimistic in this weekend race as they are expecting to see a different car than the previous few races. They are adamant to have found a way forward by undoing some of the changes that made the cars struggled so much in the previous few races.

Jenson can't wait to try out the car and in real positive mood after the long break. The only suspicious point is the tires performance for the weekend.

It is predicted the temperature in Valencia will not be as hot as in Hungary and Bridgestone bring in the soft and supersoft tires which is the same as in Hungary.

Jenson knows that McLaren and Ferrari had upped their game and the KERS cars can really make a different coming into the first corner. Nevertheless, Button is targetting at least a podium place to get back on track to their earlier best performance.

Aug 18, 2009

European GP Preview

Finally after couple of weeks of not hearing the roaring of the F1 car engine, finally this weekend it's back.

So, the BrawnGP team that was limping in the last few round has finally turned the corner? Have we undo the 'too much tweaking' of the perfect car which was dominating the Instanbul circuit?

This is going to be a critical point where we must at least get into the podium.

This European GP is the second time here in Valencia where the previous winner was Felipe Massa. It will be here for 7 years and this street circuit is almost like the circuit in Singapore. It has the signature of the 'hanging bridge' as seen in the picture.

We are expecting a clear weather this weekend and a hot temperature which should suit BrawnGP with the correct tires option. I hope we have learned from the previous races and corrected the problem.

Another aspect of this race is Red Bull (currently the form team) is not suited for this track as the street layout lacks the kind of high-speeds bends where the RB5 is super-effective.

The drivers are so eagerly to start the racing after the 1 month of inactivity. The fans are feeling the same, as it's so exciting just to hear the roar of the BGP001 engine again.

Aug 17, 2009

Lauda On BrawnGP

Niki Lauda (3 times F1 world champion) was interviewed recently and was asked about his opinion with the current F1 championship.

He was surprised with the current F1 standing as no one would have predicted BrawnGP at the top of the piles. Of course he is saying BrawnGP is the favourite to win the championship but he pointed out that Vettel and Webber partnership is better than Button and Barrichello pairing.

And he is predicting a close fight come end of the F1 season as Red Bull will run close to BrawnGP.

Of course that will depend on how BrawnGP respond to the last few disappointing races.

Aug 14, 2009

Barrichello Grateful

All the focus on Jenson is now turned to Barrichello as he is now a grateful person. He was visiting his compatriot Massa recovering from the freak accident 2 days ago.

After spending the afternoon with Felipe, reassured that he is fine and exactly the same person as before except for the minor scar.

Barrichello is thankful that it was not as worse as he had thought. He was wishing Massa well and a speedy recovery, but we will not see him for quite some time in F1 as he needs to be 100% fine before going through the fitness training again.

Barrichello a relieved person after going into an emotional situation when Massa was hit by the spring came off his BrawnGP car. He was not allowed to see him the day when Massa was admitted to the hospital. And he was having all kind of thoughts during the race in Hungary and finished at a disappointing 10th position.

Aug 12, 2009

Michael Failed to Comeback!

It's really a pity not to be able to see Michael again driving a Formula 1 car as he has failed to comeback due to the neck pain problem that he had after a motocycle accident earlier in the year.

So, no one to hold back the charging Red Bull? Will BrawnGP get back to where we were? Valencia look good a place for them to make a comeback.

Come on, a few more podium for Jenson and we would seal the title...

Aug 9, 2009

Will Jenson Go?

Jenson's contract with BrawnGP is far from settle for next year. He may go or he will not go. Chances are he should remain BrawnGP.

Of course that will also depends on what the offer will be as should he crowned the world champion, his value will go up.

Ross think Button will stay loyal because he was sticking with team during the worse moment. And he assured that he willl give him pay rise once he got the championship and the world title.

Brawn is also hinting that the engine supplier will remain the same. The mercedes power plant is working exceptionally well and Ross would like to retain the engine supplier.

Aug 3, 2009

Jenson Triathlon Effort Paid Off

Jenson had done a good job in finishing 2nd at the weekend Mazda London Triathlon in the Olympic group category. It's his personal best by finishing the race at a total time of 2 hour and 7 minutes for the 3 events (Swimming , Biking and Running).

For his effort, he also managed to raise fund for the 'Make-a-wish' foundation. A total of £17k was achieved.

Good job to Button and his BrawnGP engineers (Shovlin and Bonnington also joined in but in the Sprint race category) and at the same time staying fit and focus on the upcoming race.

The Unauthorized Biography

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