Jenson Button Brilliantly Takes Australian Grand Prix

World Champion Jenson Button has taken the 2010 Australian Grand Prix. Button did it by making a great tactical call and the driving smoothly to preserve his tires.
 
The Grand Prix Down Under was a wild one. People think F1 is boring and they are often right. Throw in a few splashes of water, however, and all hell breaks loose. This was a classic example with rain present at the start of the race. It resulted in a wild start as Fernando Alonso appeared to be stuck in quicksand while Massa shot up to second and Robert Kubica blasted to fourth.


Cars were off and on and general chaos occurred. Button Schumacher and Alonso unwisely tried to all go into the first corner together. The resulting bumping led to Also going to the back of the field after spinning, Schumacher needing a new wing and Button dropping back after nearly going off the track. At the front of the field, Sebastian Vettel set off on a comfortable lead. Then things got interesting.
 
The track started to dry out a bit and Button dived for the McLaren pits. Slicks went on and his out lap was a mess. The second lap, however, showed him post the fastest time of the day. Suddenly, others were pitting as well. Red Bull blew it by keeping their drivers out too long. Vettel kept his lead, but Webber went back to fourth. Button, meanwhile, cycled through into second!
 
Then tactics started occurring. Hamilton and Alonso both made a charge. Alonso went from the back of the pack to fourth while Hamilton got up to third. Vettel blew a brake rotor in the delicate Red Bull and was plunged out of the race again. Certain cars started to pit to get new tires. Button, Kubica and the two Ferraris stayed on track and eventually it came down to Hamilton trying to pass Alonso. He could not do it despite being two seconds a lap faster as Alonso put on an amazing display. At the front, smooth Jenson Button glided home to a 17 second victory on tires that were older than any other car in the field.
 
Driver of the Race
 
There are three candidates. Alonso was simply brilliant. From the back of the field to fourth was amazing, but his ability to hold off the hyper aggressive Hamilton while his tires were shot was simply amazing. His cool reaction to the team despite the obvious mistake not to bring him in for tires also contrasted with the wining arrogance of Hamilton.
 
Lewis Hamilton made a brilliant drive, but he is really immature. He complained about his tires and was brought in to get new ones. Twenty laps later, he then complains about who brought him in and slags the team on the radio. What a jerk? He was nearly 2 seconds a lap faster than Alonso. Pass him already! If Hamilton’s tires were off, what were Alonso’s?
 
Then there is Jenson Button. The tactical decision was brilliant but the team gets some big credit for that. What was more brilliant was his ability to keep up a fast pace given the age of his tires. Remember, he had the oldest tires on the track. He nearly went the entire race on this set and yet was still faster than Kubica and the Ferraris at the end. I’ve not always been a Button fan, but his smooth driving was amazing and it was a job well done. Because of this, I am giving him the award. Well done Jenson!
 
Bad Luck Driver
 
Do I even need to write his name? Sebastian Vettel must be ill. The Red Bull is fast, but his car seems to have the reliability of a glass plate in the middle of a bull ring. The thing just shatters. Should have 50 points and two wins. Has no wins and 12 points.
 
Bad Driver of the Race
 
This is a close one between Massa and Webber. Massa had a good start, but then drove so poorly that his race engineer was giving him tips on how to handle the last corner! It was a miracle those tires survived to the end. As bad as he was, Webber was disgraceful. He was bumped back on a poor pit strategy by Red Bull, but then was all over the place. Despite having the fastest car on the track, he could make little progress. Then his slagging of Hamilton at the end of the race was a joke. Apparently, he was looking at a lass in the stands or something. He just barreled into the back of Hamilton and later apologized saying he has lost down force. Perhaps, but how exactly did he plan to get by two cars that were side by side in the corner!



The Love Is Over
 
Michael Schumacher. Yikes. The Mercedes is the fourth fastest car in the field, but Schumi is back battling for the 10 position? I realize he had to have a front wing replaced, but come on. Alonso blew back to the front of the field. I am a huge Schumi fan, but it is not looking good for the rest of the year even though it is early.
 
Conclusion
 
Once again, great work by Jenson Button. I don’t know about you, but he seems to me to be more of the prototypical McLaren driver. A class act through and through like Mika Hakkinen and smooth as well.
 
Final Results:

1 Jenson Button     McLaren       1:33:36.531
2 Robert Kubica     Renault     + 12.034
3 Felipe Massa         Ferrari     + 14.488
4 Fernando Alonso     Ferrari     + 16.304
5 Nico Rosberg         Mercedes GP     + 16.683
6 Lewis Hamilton     McLaren     + 29.898
7 Vitantonio Liuzzi     Force India     + 59.847
8 Rubens Barrichello     Williams     + 1:00.536
9 Mark Webber         Red Bull     + 1:07.319
10 Michael Schumacher     Mercedes GP     + 1:09.391
11 Jaime Alguersuari     Toro Rosso     + 1:11.301
12 Pedro de la Rosa     Sauber         + 1:14.084
13 Heikki Kovalainen     Lotus         at 2 laps
14 Karun Chandhok     HRT         at 5 laps
15 Timo Glock         Virgin         at 17 laps (DNF)
16 Lucas Di Grassi     Virgin         at 32 laps (DNF)
17 Sebastian Vettel     Red Bull     at 33 laps (DNF)
18 Adrian Sutil     Force India     at 49 laps (DNF)
19 Vitaly Petrov     Renault     at 49 laps (DNF)
20 Bruno Senna         HRT         at 54 laps (DNF)
21 Sebastien Buemi     Toro Rosso     at 58 laps (DNF)
22 Nico Hülkenberg     Williams     at 58 laps (DNF)
23 Kamui Kobayashi     Sauber         at 58 laps (DNF)
24 Jarno Trulli     Lotus         at 58 laps (DNS)

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