Monaco Grand Prix Taken By Jenson Button and Brawn GP
The iconic Monaco Grand Prix has been won by Jenson Button of Brawn GP. The Brawn team achieved a one-two finish in the crown jewel race of the Formula One Season.
The Monaco Grand Prix is an odd bird. It is considered the crown jewel of the season, but is frankly about as boring as it gets. The cars have developed to the point that the road track is laughably inadequate. The only way to pass is during a pit stop or by trying a white knuckle breaking maneuver after the tunnel. The odd crash is exciting, but that is really about it.
Jenson Button obviously could care less. He was dominant from the green light. The Brawn car is clearly the class of the field, but the measure of Jenson Button seems to be the internal driving competition. He has so outclassed Ruben Barrichello that it clearly looks as though it is time for Rubens to retire. The comments of Rubens that he was faster/better than Michael Schumacher just look more and more pathetic every day. Rubens is a good guy, but has never been and never will be a number one driver. Viva la Jenson!
Race Honors
The race weekend was a mix of the odd, boring, compelling and crass. Yep, it was the usual weekend in Monaco. From politics to beautiful women and even a bit of racing, there was plenty to be discussed, so let’s give out the awards on the track.
Best Drive – Jenson Button
There was no notable drive in this race where someone came from the back of the pack forward. One would’ve though Lewis Hamilton would make a move, but he did not. This is not a mark against him as passing in Monaco is nearly impossible, but it would’ve added some drama. Since nobody came forth, I’m giving the award to Jenson Button…the winner of the driver’s World Championship for this season. Yes, it is already over.
Best Team – Ferrari
The Scuderia has taken a beating off and on the track this season and rightfully so. This race, however, showed they have pride and have put their proverbial noses to the grindstone. Raikkonen nearly took pole and the top 4 finishes were commendable. This is particularly true given the distractions off the track with the FIA and Whip It Max Mosley. It is also interesting that Ferrari are moving forward and Mercedes McLaren are not. One would have thought the opposite would’ve happened.
Worst Driver – Sebastian Vettel
I’m a huge Vettel fan and his performance this year has been amazing. That being said, he has to take criticism if he is going to get the accolades. He was horrible at Monaco. The first problem was he used up his option tires in the first stint and became a moving road block. It showed poor planning and technique. Second, he threw away the points of third or fourth place finish by losing focus and bouncing it in the wall. Monaco is all about just making it to the end and collecting your points. With Ferrari apparently getting its act together, those lost points could end up really mattering at the end of the year. Come on Sebastian!
Badly Shows True Colors – Robert Kubica
They say the measure of a man is how he acts when things are not going well. If this is true, the measure of Robert Kubica is that he is a front runner. BMW stinks at the moment. Fine. That doesn’t mean you throw your team under the bus like Kubica does. “We just have to realize we are bad now” isn’t exactly standing up for your team.
Perhaps Kubica should look down the pit lane to Felipe Massa. With heavyweights Ferrari both stinking it up, he refused to throw the team under the bus. When Ferrari failed to send Massa out for a last lap in qualifying that left him stranded in the back of the field a few races ago, Massa refused to blame anyone. When his race engineer tried to take the blame on the world television feed, Massa refused to let him.
Robert Kubica should ask himself the following questions? Who gave him his shot in a big team? BMW. Who spent hundreds of millions of dollars to develop a car that gave him is first win in Canada? BMW. Now that BMW is having some trouble, the Pole is throwing them into the toilet? You can be sure the big teams are taking notes on the lack of poise and class shown by Kubica. Talent is one thing and he has it. Class is another and he appears to be well short of that.
Should Return His Check – Kovalainan
How does this man keep his seat? Does he have pictures of Norbert Haug doing something nasty? The race is on between Nelson Piquet, Jr and Heikki to see who is the worst driver in Formula One. The Monaco Grand Prix saw Heikki actually doing okay in the top 10. Given the crash and gearbox change of Lewis Hamilton, it was a day for Heikki to carry the flag for McLaren. He did – right into the wall! A ghastly bit of driving by a ghastly driver. Look for McLaren to dump Heikki before the end of the season. It is clear he is not up to the task and McLaren is throwing away constructors points each race it lets him start. End the misery!
Overall
Monaco brought the season into focus for Formula One fans. Jenson Button will be World Champion unless he is injured. Brawn GP will win the Constructor’s Championship. The only interesting thing left is whether Red Bull or Ferrari can challenge for the occasion win and whether the teams and FIA will continue their soap opera. On to Turkey!
Lemmy