Pirelli's Miles and Meals Serves Up Formula 1 Inspired Food Art

Photo Credit: Pirelli & C. S.p.A

When it comes to Formula 1, the notion of ingenuity is not lost in the sport. The 1960s through to the 1990s were eras where some of the most drastic advancements revolutionized the sport. From rear-mounted engines, aerodynamic aids, turbochargers, right up to computer-controlled suspension, the progress either became a benchmark or such a threat it was banned from the Formula 1. The search for the extra amount of track performance now transpires on a more sudtle scale as the decades of innovation has pressed the motorsport sanctioning body to develop strict regulations. Defining human creativity, Formula 1 has merged with culinary arts highlighted inside of a unique, upcoming book from Pirelli.

Inside of a limited edition book called Miles and Meals – handcrafted by Pirelli”, Pirelli's hospitality motorhome that attends Formula 1 races and test sessions has realized the spectacle of the premier open wheel racing in the form of food. Organized under the guidance of hospitality manager Cristian Staurenghi and crafted with the culinary masterpieces of head chef Fabrizio Tanfani, the "Miles and Meals – handcrafted by Pirelli” book will detail recipes of fine food delight. Tire company Pirelli likens the recipe book to their core business in formulating tire rubber compounds.

Photo Credit: Pirelli & C. S.p.A

Perhaps the most drawing component to this cookbook is the photographs depicting food assembled in the images of Formula 1. Cars, racetrack and racing symbols such as the podium have been sculpted through recipes. Sea salt becomes a sand trap and basil leaf becoming a green light are some examples for how ingredients double in providing taste as well as artistry to dishes. For what could be the most eye-catching, an octopus takes the role of a mechanic in one recipe.

At Monaco, Formula 1 drivers Jenson Button and Romain Grosjean were guest celebrity chefs at the Pirelli motorhome to celebrate the pending launch of the "Miles and Meals – handcrafted by Pirelli”. The recipes from this food compilation will be made available on the www.pirelli.com website in the near future.

Included below are some of the culinary creations found with the "Miles and Meals – handcrafted by Pirelli” recipe book.

Photo Credit: Pirelli & C. S.p.A

Photo Credit: Pirelli & C. S.p.A

Photo Credit: Pirelli & C. S.p.A

Photo Credit: Pirelli & C. S.p.A

Button Pushed to Win at Australian GP; 2012 F1 Season Opener

Photo Credit: Sauber F1

After just under four months of inaction on the grand prix circuit, Formula 1 teams were far from stagnant through the off-season. Creating brand new cars conforming to 2012 rules, several teams arrived for the first Formula 1 race of the season with a stepped or "duck bill" nose racing machine in Australia. Having worked on the winning formula for succeeding in Formula 1, the 2012 Australian Grand Prix on the Albert Park 5.303-kilometer track would hold the initial showcase for whether the winter labouring of engineers and car builders would deliver on promises.

Known as a fast circuit consisting of heavy-braking corners, Albert Park has been hosting the only race on the only FIA-sanctioned Formula 1 race on the Australian continent since 1985. On 13 occasions, the year's winner of the Australian Grand Prix was declared the Formula 1 World Drivers Champion at the end of the season. Jenson Button in 2009 and Sebastian Vettel in 2011 are recent victors in Australia to claim the series' top honour.

One of the few teams not accepting the popular stepped nose design, McLaren-Mercedes cars posted team speed in qualifying for the 2012 Grand Prix of Australia. Lewis Hamilton bested teammate Jenson Button for the pole position as the 22-car grid for the Australian Grand Prix assembled Sunday. When the overhead starting lights cycled and eventually darkened, the 2012 Formula 1 season was inaugurated with the V-8 powered open wheel race cars buzzing into turn 1. Immediately, the McLaren MP4-27 Formula 1 cars battled with Button triumphing in beating Hamilton for lead in the Australian Grand Prix.

As the McLaren-Mercedes vehicles storm forward with their top starting spots, third place race qualifier Romain Grosjean mistimed the Australian Grand Prix's start in his Lotus-Renault. Competing just one lap in the race, Grosjean's Lotus-Renault car suffered race-ending wheel/tire damage with contact between Pastor Maldonado's Williams F1 car. While Romain Grosjean saw his promising grand prix end with a 20th place finish, Maldonado continued to circulate around the Albert Park circuit and eventually became a big story as the 2012 Australian Grand Prix endured.

Similar to Grosjean's fortunes, the highly-decorated veteran Michael Schumacher was also confronted with an early exit from th 2012 grand prix in Australia. Having started in 4th place, Schumacher and the Mercedes GP team saw a chance of a good race turn bad. On lap 11, Michael Schumacher shot off track while in third position on the race track. Slowing on track, Schumacher lost pace and promptly retired just two laps later. Mercedes GP team pride surrounded the remaining race car of Nico Rosberg who held onto a top-5 position through much of the event. Unfortunately, a tire puncture through the latter stage of the Australian Grand Prix robbed Rosberg of a points-scoring day with a 12th place finish.

Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

While the first qualifying session of 2012 resulted in a twisted ordeal for major Formula 1 race teams such as Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Ferrari were buried deeper than the grid than accustomed to after 2011. Starting on the third row of the Australian Grand Prix, the Red Bull-Renaults of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber both improved on their grid positions over the course of the 58-lap race. In the case of the reigning Formula 1 world champion Vettel, his #1 Red Bull Racing car climbed from 6th to 2nd place after leap-frogging the McLaren of Lewis Hamilton through the course of the Australian event. Mark Webber had Chased down Hamilton's McLaren-Mercedes in the final laps of the Australian Grand Prix but was under to formulate a pass for the final podium finish.

The two-car team of Ferrari did not enjoy the same improvements that allowed the Red Bull Racing squad to show a promising event in Australia but still came away with some progress. Struggling with handling of the new 2012 team car, drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa were initially able to better than their dismal qualifying efforts. While Alonso surged to within the Formula 1 points, Massa's race ended late following a lap 47 collision with Williams-Renault of Bruno Senna that damaged the suspension on the Brazilian driver's Ferrari.

Photo Credit: Infiniti/Red Bull

Slowing the Australian Grand Prix, the Caterham-Renault driven by Vitaly Petrov broke down on the frontstretch on lap 36. As the Mercedes-Benz SLS safety car was deployed, race leader's Jenson Button's lead was erased. However, Button provided an anti-climatic note to any drumming from challengers as the McLaren-Mercedes keep a steady gap on Sebastian Vettel when the race resumed on lap 42.

Leading final 16 laps of the Australian Grand Prix, Jenson Button and the McLaren F1 team won the first event of the 2012 Formula 1 tour. The British driver's third victory at the Albert Park race circuit's grand prix, Button started his Formula 1 career in the Australian competition with Williams in 2000.

Finishing 2.1 seconds behind Jenson Button, Sebastian Vettel revealed that he is eyeing a third straight Formula 1 series title by splitting the McLaren-Mercedes cars. Lewis Hamilton, Mark Webber and Fernando Alonso picked up top-five finishes in the debut race for the 2012 Formula 1 season.

Pastor Maldonado had a chance of a top-5 finish at the Australian Grand Prix. Thrilling spectators in the late laps of the Australian Grand Prix as he drove the sole-remaining Williams-Renault vehicle well inside the points, Maldonado's race performance came undone 2 laps to go when his Pirelli slick tires clipped the Albert Park grass. Shooting the Williams hard into a retaining wall, Pastor Maldonado left the car unhurt but listed as a did not finish in the grand prix.

As Maldonado fell out of the points late, the latter half of the top-10 in the Australian Grand Prix featured a mix of fresh driving talent and experienced Formula 1 drivers. In 7th place by improving 10 spots through the Australian race, 2007 Formula 1 champion Kimi Raikkonen returned to the open wheel series with Lotus-Renault. Splitting Raikkonen, the Ferrari-powered Saubers finished strong with Kamui Kobayashi in 6th and Sergio Perez winding up 8th. In 9th place, Daniel Ricciardo brought the Scuderia Toro Rosso car across the start-finish line in his first race for the team. Also Ricciardo`s first Formula 1 points, the feat came at his home grand prix. Paul di Resta claimed the 10th and final points-paying position for Force India.   
With the first race completed in the 2012 Formula 1 season, teams and fans will only have to wait one week for the next grand prix in Malaysia.

Button Wins Thrilling Japanese GP; Vettel Claims 2011 F1 Championship

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti

 

 

The Grand Prix of Japan at Sukuza has often been a nexus point for the Formula 1 Drivers Championship thanks to its late season date. Thrilling with the famous deciding fight in the Prost/Senna battles of 1989 and 1990, the 2011 Formula 1 season's top driver Sebastian Vettel intends to celebrate clinching his second championship simply by scoring 1 point more than Jenson Button.

 

Starting Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix, the reigning champion displayed he had no plans of playing it safe. In a last second qualifying run, Sebastian Vettel ripped off a flying fastest lap to claim pole position. Accustomed to the pace he has maintained all season in the Red Bull-Renault, Sebastian Vettel launched aggressively as the lights went out to start the Japanese Grand Prix. Racing against the front row-starting McLaren-Mercedes, Vettel feverishly held off the Jenson Button almost directing the second-place vehicle onto the grass. Button, requiring to slow down into turn 1, would also lose a position to teammate Lewis Hamilton as he exited turn 1 in 3rd place. Vettel earned some criticism from the McLaren team but was quickly defused as the race progressed.

 

With a race going textbook for Sebastian Vettel and the Red Bull-Renault, the fight 2nd to 4th place would see Jenson Button reclaim his original spot from Lewis Hamilton on lap 8just before the 2008 World Champion pitted. Hamilton stopped his McLaren-Mercedes to the attention of crew early due to a recorded tire puncture. As the McLaren pit crew came to the aid of Hamilton, the race mechanics would be elevated to heroic. Pitting on lap 21, Jenson Button came to the attention of his crew members who performed a lightning fast pit stop compared to Vettel's Red Bull Racing mechanics. Gaining sizable track position, Button came out of the pits in front of the previously-pitted car of Sebastian Vettel. Exiting in 4th place overall at the lap 22 point in the Japanese Grand Prix, Jenson Button progressed to the lead.

 

With a safety car period slowing the Grand Prix of Japan as a result of debris (namely the carbon fiber pieces landing on track after Mark Webber's Red Bull-Renault made contact with the Mercedes GP car's Michael Schumacher in the 130R area of the Suzuka track. Off the restart, Jenson Button continued to pull away from Sebastian Vettel while the Ferrari of Fernando Alonso managed to fish around the Red Bull for an ultimate second place finish.

 

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti

 

 

Jenson Button would hold on to win the 2011 Japanese Grand Prix for what was an big victory for the McLaren. Button had just signed a contract renewal with the McLaren Formula 1 team for several more season. The country of Japan has also been desribed as special to Jenson Button by post race comments. "It’s such an emotional victory for me: there’s so much history at this circuit, and the crowd here has been amazing, this is second only to a home victory for me." said Button. The British driver is personally connected to the country highlighted by a special race helmet he has worn at Monaco and again at this Japanese Grand Prix. That Jenson Button helmet will be auctioned off in the near future in support of the country of Japan currently rebuilding from the natural disaster earlier this year.

 

Michael Schumacher finished 6th in the Japanese Grand Prix but enjoyed one of the more momentous runs at Sukuza. In the latter 1/3 distance in the event, Schumacher's Mercedes GP MGP W02 race car led before a necessary pit stop. “I’m very happy with what we achieved in Suzuka today as we maximised our potential of the car, and managed to put in a good race." said 7-time Formula 1 champion Schumacher. While Michael Schumacher's teammate Nico Rosberg did not enjoy a front-running sprint in the grand prix, the young German did accomplish a hard-fought feat. Unable to log a lap in qualifying Saturday at Suzuka, Rosberg's Mercedes GP car was only granted a rear field starting spot after Formula 1 stewards permitted the team to run the Japanese Grand Prix. By lap 25, Nico Rosberg and his crew worked the car up to 13th place. At the end, a 10th place position and a single Formula 1 series point was earned by Rosberg.

 

After the race though, the man of the hour was the acclaimed 2011 Formula 1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel. Needing only a single point, Vettel displayed the same grand prix win-contending performance powerthe Red Bull-Renault driver plans in completing this near dream season. Finishing 3rd and on podium, Vettel was ecstatic about his 2nd straight championship by charging towards his Red Bull Racing crew members in celebration. Vettel clinches the Formula 1 championship with 4 races remaining in the 2011 season. Sebastian Vettel joins active drivers Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher as multiple time champions in Formula 1. 

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti

Continuing with the late year Asian tour for the Formula 1 series, teams prepare for the Korean Grand Prix schedule in one week's time (October 16th).

 

2011 Formula 1

Japanese Grand Prix

Suzuka Circuit

Race Results

 

1. 4 Jenson Button McLaren
2. 5 Fernando Alonso Ferrari
3. 1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing
4. 2 Mark Webber Red Bull Racing
5. 3 Lewis Hamilton McLaren
6. 7 Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP
7. 6 Felipe Massa Ferrari
8. 17 Sergio Perez Sauber
9. 10 Vitaly Petrov Lotus Renault GP
10. 8 Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP
11. 14 Adrian Sutil Force India
12. 15 Paul di Resta Force India
13. 16 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber
14. 12 Pastor Maldonado Williams F1
15. 19 Jaime Alguersuari Scuderia Toro Rosso
16. 9 Bruno Senna Lotus Renault GP
17. 11 Rubens Barrichello Williams F1
18. 21 Heikki Kovalainen Team Lotus
19. 20 Jarno Trulli Team Lotus
20. 24 Timo Glock Marussia Virgin Racing
21. 25 Jérôme D’Ambrosio Marussia Virgin Racing
22. 22 Daniel Ricciardo HRT F1
23. 23 Vitantonio Liuzzi HRT F1
24. 18 Sebastien Buemi Scuderia Toro Rosso

Seeing Red Bull at Spa: Vettel Tops in Qualifying

Photo Credit: Lorenzo Bellanca/LAT Photographic

 

Dealing with wet as well as drier weather conditions, this Formula 1 race weekend at the Spa-Francorchamps race track has pressured drivers and teams to be quite adaptive. Rain as well as water-covered track surfaces assured two practice sessions Friday where Pirelli slick and rain tires received considerable usage. Qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix, the changing competition structure due to weather played a role in the three timed sessions.  

 

Qualifying started with competitors logging laps on wet weather Pirelli tires as earlier rain dampened the Spa-Francorchamps race course. Early into the Q1, a more dramatic moment during Belgian Grand Prix qualifying was a mechanical problem that transpired on the Mercedes GP car of Michael Schumacher. Being on the top of the practice sheet following the first track session Friday, Schumacher encountered a loss of a rear wheel and tire assembly. The Mercedes GP race machine spun through turn 7 and 8. Such a sudden spin out, Schumacher initially suspected he simply lost control of the race car. Finding some wit in reaction to the lost wheel, Michael Schumacher commented, “Well, obviously I would have wished for a different end to today’s qualifying, but it is difficult to drive on three wheels - even if I should have the experience to do so in Spa." While Michael Schumacher was unable to log a qualifying time, Formula 1 stewards granted the 7-time World Champion and his Mercedes GP car the right to race Sunday.

 

Once the wide Q1 qualifying grouping ended, the Mercedes-powered McLaren of Jenson Button and the Mark Webber's Red Bull-Renault car were the top of the time chart. Clocking a time of 2 minutes, 1.813 seconds around the 7.004-kilometer Spa-Francorchamps circuit in the #4 McLaren, Button led the remaining 17 Formula 1 race cars into the Q2 session.

 

Traditionally faster than the first time trial session, the Q2 qualifying grouping was actually a fraction slower. A drying race track nullified performance improvements made by Formula 1 teams. Almost a 1 slower than Jenson Button's Q1 time, Fernando Alonso led after the second Formula 1 time trial session in his Ferrari. The biggest performance fall-off occurred with the McLaren-Mercedes of Jenson Button. Button was the fastest driver in Q1 but was relegated to a 13th place starting spot for the Belgian Grand Prix.

 

As the Spa-Francorchamps course dried, the 10 remaining vehicles running Q3 session began to undertake a potentially risky move to place slick Pirelli tires on their race machines. With the Belgium race track developing a dry groove, the choice to tread on the Spa-Francorchamps circuit demonstrated an immediate pay-off. Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton wore the Pirelli optional slick compound in a final time trial attack. While competing in the dodgy course conditions, the final 10 cars performed laps that were around 15 seconds faster on slick tires as they fought for top positions for the Belgian Grand Prix.

 

Taking pole for the Sunday's event, Sebastian Vettel emerged from relative silence throughout the race weekend. Vettel achieved a 1 minute, 48.298 second lap time in his Red Bull-Renault preserving the team's undefeated streak in qualifying so far in 2011. McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton took 2nd place despite an on-track qualifying incident with the Williams F1 car of Pastor Maldonado. As Hamilton's McLaren team members quickly fixed the front wing damage, Maldonado will be assessed a five-grid position penalty dropping the Williams F1 driver to 21st place. Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber captured the 3rd place starting spot for the Belgian Grand Prix race ahead of Ferrari's Felipe Massa.

 

A few surprises in the top-10 includes the Scuderia Toro Rosso team car of Jaime Alguersuari planted in a stunning 6th place. Powered by Ferrari powerplants, Alguesuari is joined close to the front by Sauber's Sergio Perez in 9th position also propelled by the same Italian engine supplier. Also prominently fixed in the 2011 Belgian Grand Prix is the Lotus Renault GP cars. The first competitive run in the team's race car, Bruno Senna will start 7th in his first Formula 1 event since 2010. The second Lotus Renault GP driver Vitaly Petrov will start 10th.

 

The Belgian Grand Prix is 12th round of the 2011 Formula 1 season set to start at 2 PM local time (8 AM Eastern time). Weather forecasts call for a very cool 44-lap event which could also present the after effects of a rain shower.

 

 

2011 Formula 1
Belgian Grand Prix
Spa-Francorchamps
Starting Grid

 

1. 1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing
2. 3 Lewis Hamilton McLaren
3. 2 Mark Webber Red Bull Racing
4. 6 Felipe Massa Ferrari
5. 5 Fernando Alonso Ferrari
6. 19 Jaime Alguersuari Scuderia Toro Rosso
7. 8 Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP
8. 9 Bruno Senna Lotus Renault GP
9. 17 Sergio Perez Sauber
10. 10 Vitaly Petrov Lotus Renault GP
11. 18 Sebastien Buemi Scuderia Toro Rosso
12. 16 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber
13. 4 Jenson Button McLaren
14. 11 Rubens Barrichello Williams F1
15. 14 Adrian Sutil Force India
16. 21 Heikki Kovalainen Team Lotus
17. 15 Paul di Resta Force India
18. 20 Jarno Trulli Team Lotus
19. 24 Timo Glock Marussia Virgin Racing
20. 12 Pastor Maldonado Williams F1
21. 25 Jérôme D’Ambrosio Marussia Virgin Racing
22. 23 Vitantonio Liuzzi HRT F1
23. 22 Daniel Ricciardo HRT F1
24. 7 Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP

Revitalized Vettel Takes Hungarian Grand Prix Pole

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti USA

After dominating the early part of the 2011 Formula 1 season, Sebastian Vettel had been going through what can constitute as a slump. At the past grand prix at German's Nurburgring circuit, Vettel started 4th place in the #1 Red Bull-Renault for what was his worst grid position for the 2011 season. Maintaining Red Bull Racing's undefeated streak in qualifying for the British and German Grand Prix was Vettel's teammate Mark Webber. As Sebastian Vettel leaves his home grand prix in Germany with a less than spectacular result, the reigning world champion in the Formula 1 series could have a new sense of purpose entering Budapest for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

An intense battle during Saturday qualifying saw drivers of Red Bull Racing, McLaren F1 and Scuderia Ferrari clamouring for the pole on the tight 4.381 kilometer Hungaroring track. After the Q2 session in Formula 1 qualifying for Sunday's race, the Ferrari of Fernando Alonso posted a 1 minute, 20.262 second time around the track to lead at this point in time trials. Immediately ahead of Jenson Button and Mark Webber, Alonso held the benchmark into Q3 which was quickly eclipsed.

Setting a time more than half a second faster than his Q2 session best around the Hungaroring, the McLaren-Mercedes of Jenson Button was 3rd fastest. In the second row, Button starts alongside the 4th place Felipe Massa's Ferrari and a grid row ahead of Massa's teammate Alonso. Showing strength of McLaren, Lewis Hamilton rose from 7th fastest in Q2 to 2nd quickest in the final Q3 qualifying. Hamilton's 1 minute, 19.978 second time was more than 1.2 seconds better than the previous session.

Starting from pole for the 2011 Hungarian Grand Prix is the Red Bull-Renault piloted by Sebastian Vettel. Setting top time in qualifying with a 1 minute, 19.815 second lap, Vettel like Hamilton made up considerable ground from Q2 to gain a front row spot for Sunday's grand prix. The Hungarian Grand Prix pole position for the German driver marks the 8th time in 2011 Vettel starts out front of a Formula 1 race. In the 7 previous outings where the #1 Red Bull-Renault started on the pole, Sebastian Vettel went on to win the grand prix 5 times.

2011 Formula 1

Hungarian Grand Prix

Hungaroring

Starting Line-up

1. 1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing
2. 3 Lewis Hamilton McLaren
3. 4 Jenson Button McLaren
4. 6 Felipe Massa Ferrari
5. 5 Fernando Alonso Ferrari
6. 2 Mark Webber Red Bull Racing
7. 8 Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP
8. 14 Adrian Sutil Force India
9. 7 Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP
10. 17 Sergio Perez Sauber
11. 13 15 Paul di Resta Force India
12. 10 Vitaly Petrov Lotus Renault GP
13. 16 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber
14. 9 Nick Heidfeld Lotus Renault GP
15. 11 Rubens Barrichello Williams F1
16. 19 Jaime Alguersuari Scuderia Toro Rosso
17. 8 12 Pastor Maldonado Williams F1
18. 18 Sebastien Buemi Scuderia Toro Rosso
19. 21 Heikki Kovalainen Team Lotus
20. 20 Jarno Trulli Team Lotus
21. 24 Timo Glock Marussia Virgin Racing
22. 23 Vitantonio Liuzzi HRT F1
23. 22 Daniel Ricciardo HRT F1
24. 25 Jérôme D’Ambrosio Marussia Virgin Racing

  

Hamilton's The Man in Montreal; Wins 2nd Canadian Grand Prix

Photo Credit: Lotus Racing


Saying bonjour to the Formula 1 drivers and teams for the 8th race of the 2010 season, the Canadian Grand Prix returns to the F1 circuit and Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve after a one-year hiatus.

Gaining the pole through a fastest lap time Saturday around the 4.361 mile road course, Lewis Hamilton and McLaren Formula 1 team starts in a handsome position on the race grid. Even before the race began however, Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber lost his front row starting spot when the team addressed a gearbox problem on his Red Bull-Renault.

Once the race got underway, the start was shaken by contact between the Ferrari of Felipe Massa and the Force India-Mercedes belonging to Vitantonio Liuzzi. Though requiring pit service to fix car damage, the incident was not enough for the FIA to call out the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG pace car. In fact, uncharacteristic for a the past F1 outings by Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, the 2010 edition of the race went on without a safety car period at any point in the event.

Head to head, the McLaren and Ferrari fought to get their driver out first. Unleashed, both Alonso and Hamilton stormed down the pit road side-by-side with Fernando Alonso just edging out the McLaren. However, shortly afterwards, Hamilton thrusted past the Ferrari F2010 for what would be a defining pass in settling the race's victor.

Remembered as a demanding track on the mechanicals of a Formula 1 car, an engine failure on Pedro de la Rosa's BMW Sauber-Ferrari and a brake issue on the Lotus-Cosworth of Jarno Trulli were the only major technical-related retirements in the race along with Bruno Senna. The only real physical attributes drivers and teams were contending with in the Canadian Grand Prix were the Bridgestone tires. While the primary compound was the hardest compound selected for the teams to run in the race weekend, several drivers faced trouble preserving their rubber. In the standout case in the Canadian Grand Prix, Mark Webber attempted to run longer on a set of primary tires only to see his nearly 11 second lead reduced to a few car lengths over Lewis Hamilton. As Webber's Red Bull-Renault fell into the grasp of Hamilton's McLaren-Mercedes, the tires on the Red Bull Racing tire were showing severe signs of shredding. Losing the large interval lead, Webber also lost any hope of a podium finish. When Webber pitted, the top-3 were led by the two McLarens of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button with Ferrari's Fernando Alonso in third spot.


Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

As the race was going well for younger drivers like Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel, 7-time Canadian Grand Prix winner Michael Schumacher pressed through one of the toughest days the 41 year-old German had experienced since his F1 return. Starting 13th, Schumacher was able to lift himself into a top-10 spot inside the Canadian Grand Prix running order past halfway but would fall quickly into the gunsights of mid-mark F1 teams.

On lap 61, Sabastien Buemi in the Toro Rosso-Ferrari was able to vault himself past Schumacher started with a determined charge down the front stretch into the Senna curves. Falling to Buemi, when Felipe Massa charged on Schumacher's Mercedes GP car on the final laps, the German was intent not to away anymore championship points. As Massa attempted a move on the outside of Schumacher through the Casino stretch, the Mercedes gave no room to the Ferrari causing Massa to clip Schumacher's rear tire. Massa's Ferrari suffered a damaged front wing and would require a late race pit stop for a replacement nose piece costing him also a point-scoring finish. The incident questions whether Felipe Massa made a misjudgement or if Schumacher made a second blocking move into the corner; a move which is a no-no.

Completing the bad day for Michael Schumacher ended with a dream moment for both Force India Formula 1 team cars. Into the final lap, Vitantonio Liuzzi was working on a way past with his teammate Adrian Sutil in tow. Through a well-timed last lap move, Luizzi found an opening around Schumacher's Mercedes which provided a path for his Force India teammate to follow capturing the 10th and final point-scoring position for the Canadian Grand Prix.

For his second win in a row for 2010, Lewis Hamilton brought his McLaren-Mercedes to victory excitedly celebrating in the site of his very first Formula 1 pole and victory in 2007. A 1-2 for McLaren, the team effort allowed the group to launch over Red Bull Racing in the Formula 1 Constructors Championship. Joining the McLaren pair, Fernando Alonso brought Ferrari a podium effort while his teammate Massa suffered hard-luck throughout the Canadian Grand Prix event. Happy with his 3rd place finish, Alonso will be looking to the next Formula 1, the European Grand Prix in his home country of Spain. The race on the Valencia Street Circuit is on June 27th.

Performed in front of a crowd of 300,000 race fans through the 3 days of race action, the weekend of the Canadian Grand Prix has once again proven that Canadian and even American Formula 1 audiences are substantial.


2010 Canadian Grand Prix Formula 1 Unofficial Race Results

1. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
2. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes
3. Fernando Alonso Ferrari
4. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault
5. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault
6. Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP
7. Robert Kubica Renault F1
8. Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari
9. Vitantonio Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes
10. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes
11. Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP
12. Jaime Alguersuari STR-Ferrari
13. Nico Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth
14. Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth
15. Felipe Massa Ferrari
16. Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth
17. Vitaly Petrov Renault
18. Karun Chandhok HRT-Cosworth
19. Lucas di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth
20. Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth
21. Jarno Trulli Lotus-Cosworth
22. Pedro de la Rosa BMW Sauber-Ferrari
23. Bruno Senna HRT-Cosworth
24. Kamui Kobayashi BMW Sauber-Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton Captures Turkish Grand Prix After Red Bull Blunder

Andrew Ferraro/LAT Photographic


Into the 7th Formula 1 race of 2010, this year for the world tour of open wheel racing doesn't even appear to be the same grand prix season which started in Bahrain. With Ferrari ruling the today after Red Bull Racing struggled, the Austrian-based Red Bull Racing team ignited at the Malaysian Grand Prix as Sebastian Vettel won. Two races later, Mark Webber in the second Red Bull-Renault won at Spain and Monaco. Meanwhile, Ferrari has been enduring a difficult stretch since their Bahrain win.

As the Turkish Grand Prix set off, Mark Webber made the most of his 3rd straight pole position running to an early lead into the first corner. Front-row starter Lewis Hamilton's reaction time on the start in Istanbul Park was not so strong for the McLaren-Mercedes car. Sebastian Vettel's 3rd place starting Red Bull-Renault found the edge on Hamilton through off the starting grid. With Red Bull Racing cars first and second, the 2010 Turkish Grand Prix was going according to the ideal plan for the blue cars.



Photo Credit: Mercedes GP


A tame race in the early stages with only the Lotus-Cosworth pair listed as out of the race for hydraulic problems, the complexion of the Turkish Grand Prix would change on lap 41 when Vettel saw an opportunity to show up his inner-team rival Mark Webber. Always a dicey situation, the Red Bull Racing squad at the Formula 1 Turkish Grand Prix in 2010 showcased the worst fears of a team owner. With the Red Bull-Renaults close together through the race, Vettel sized up his teammate Webber seeing a weakness into turn 11. Vettel placed his car on the left side planning a late braking move edging along Mark Webber's car. Depending on what driver is asked, Webber either moved over on Vettel or Vettel turned right on Webber to breed a collision between the two cars. With Vettel out of the race and Webber forced to pit road to have his front wing replaced, this Red Bull Racing ordeal saw the recent fortune of the team change. While assessed as a racing incident, it doesn't seem out of the question that Sebastian Vettel might be getting sick of playing second fiddle to Webber through 2010. Vettel, the young German, was expected to be a tour-de-force with Red Bull Racing for 2010 following some brilliant race wins through the second half of last season.

Minus the Red Bull-Renaults at the front, the McLaren F1 team took affirmative control of the grand prix. Revisiting the in-team battle of Red Bull Racing, the McLaren-Mercedes British drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button fought briefly amongst themselves for the 2010 Turkish Grand Prix lead. While the McLaren teammates behaved overall, there was a moment where Button made a hard run against Hamilton. However, as the two McLaren-Mercedes were warned by team engineers to save fuel, the front settled into a 1-2 finish for the second time in 2010 for the team (First came when Button won in China with Hamilton as the runner-up).

With his two race winning streak in Formula 1 broken, Mark Webber was able to rejoin the field for a podium finish in the Turkish Grand Prix. Powered by a Renault engine, Webber's Red Bull Racing car finished within a Mercedes sandwich as the McLaren F1 team finished in front and the Mercedes GP cars followed. Michael Schumacher led Nico Rosberg with the team with Robert Kubica bringing the factory Renault F1 organization a 6th place finish.

Another hard Formula 1 race for Ferrari in 2010, Felipe Massa finished 7th while Fernando Alonso gained a position off Renault F1's Vitaly Petrov when their side-by-side battle through the late laps. When the Ferrari and Renault made contact on lap 54, Petrov ended up on the losing end of hte battle as the Russian's race car suffered a flat tire. Costing him not only an 8th place finish, Vataly Petrov missed a sure-chance to gain driver's championship points.


Photo Credit: Lotus Racing

In the final points-paying spot, the Japanese driver Kamui Kobayashi put the BMW Sauber-Ferrari in place to score an important first point for his Formula 1 career.

In Formula 1 drivers points, Mark Webber took sole possession of the top spot in the standings but stands only 5 points ahead of a resurgent Jenson Button. Within 10 points of Button of 2nd place in points, McLaren teammate Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Red Bull Racing's Sebastian Vettel are involved in making the first year with the new points system interesting after 7 races.

In two weeks, the Formula 1 teams will compete on the North American continent for their only time in 2010 as Circuit Gilles Villeneuve welcomes the Canadian Grand Prix.


2010 Turkish Grand Prix
Formula 1
Race Results

1. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
2. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes
3. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault
4. Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP
5. Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP
6. Robert Kubica Renault F1
7. Felipe Massa Ferrari
8. Fernando Alonso Ferrari
9. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes
10. Kamui Kobayashi BMW Sauber-Ferrari
11. Pedro de la Rosa BMW Sauber-Ferrari
12. Jaime Alguersuari STR-Ferrari
13. Vitantonio Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes
14. Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth
15. Vitaly Petrov Renault
16. Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari
17. Nico Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth
18. Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth
19. Lucas di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth
20. Karun Chandhok HRT-Cosworth
21. Bruno Senna HRT-Cosworth
22. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault
23. Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth
24. Jarno Trulli Lotus-Cosworth

Button Masters Weather Again to Win the Chinese Grand Prix

Under threatening skies, the 2010 Chinese Grand Prix underwent final pre-race preparations with Formula 1 teams remaining on slick tires. Completing their warm up lap as the 24 f1 cars filed into grid, drivers Sebastian Vettel and teammate Mark Webber held the front row ahead of the Ferrari of Fernando Alonso as well as the Mercedes piloted by Nico Rosberg. As the lights went out, it was the 3rd place Ferrari bypassed the pair of Red Bull-Renaults to lead the field into the first corner. However, upon review of the start, it was revealed that Alonso accelerated before the signal lights went dark. With the Ferrari committing a foul, Alonso was eventually sent to pit road to serve a drive-through penalty. "I made a serious mistake at the start as my reflexes let me down and I left early." Alonso would admit in a post-race interview. With much of the race ahead, Alonso was able to make-up for his uncharacteristic gaffe.

Other than the Ferrari start, the first lap involved some additional drama as Force India of Vitantonio Liuzzi locked up his rear brakes slowing for turn 4. The rear of the Force India broke sideways siding collecting the BMW Sauber of Kamui Kobayashi and the Toro Rosso-Ferrari of Sebestien Buemi. Heading wide through the turn, Rubens Barrichello narrowly misses the tingling race cars in his William-Cosworth. Liuzzi cited problems placing heat in the braking system during the pre-race formation lap as contributing to his loss of control.


Photo Credit: Andrew Ferraro/LAT Photographic

The multiple-car crash on lap 1 drew the safety car allowing teams to switch their slick tire with wet weather Bridgestone rubber. This safety car period ended after four laps with Nico Rosberg leading Jenson Button and the Renault of Robert Kubica. With Rosberg padding to the interval between him and Button through over a dozen laps, Rosberg made a critical misstep on lap 20 spinning his Mercedes GP car in the final corner. While Nico Rosberg recovered, the McLaren-Mercedes of Jenson Button stormed by the slowed factory Mercedes GP racer.

On lap 25, the safety car came out once again as the remaining Toro Rosso-Ferrari of Jaime Alguersuari lost its front nose and wing assembly on track. The race restarted with a last set of pit stops looming for the Formula 1 cars. While Jenson Button would maintain his lead through the cycling as pit stops, the McLaren team went to work on teammate Lewis Hamilton's car. Running third before the stop, Hamilton's stop for intermediate thread tires allowed the McLaren-Mercedes to spring ahead of Nico Rosberg after the round of pit stops were completed.

Through the late laps, both McLaren-Mercedes race cars ran on the edge of control as Button and Hamilton struggled to sink their worn tires into the wet Shanghai track. Once possessing an almost 10 second lead over 2nd place, the interval shrank to 1.5 seconds by the time the McLaren teammate's crossed the start/finish line. Holding on, Jenson Button win in China made him the first multiple winner of the 2010 Formula 1 season.

Coming home 2nd, Lewis Hamilton brought his McLaren-Mercedes to a season-best finish. Complimenting his teammate Button for the victory, Hamilton felt the call for intermediate tires left something on the table. "...I think the whole team deserves this incredible one-two result. I hope the spectators and viewers enjoyed it, too!

Driving another dedicated race in the Mercedes GP team car, Nico Rosberg grabbed his second-straight podium finish in the Chinese Grand Prix. Also interesting to note, Rosberg's placement allows Mercedes-Benz engined car to own the podium for the race.


Photo Credit: Lotus Racing

Despite pitting 5 times through the Chinese Grand Prix including , Fernando Alonso's Ferrari was within striking distance of Mercedes GP car of Nico Rosberg. In fifth, Robert Kubica is still making the most of a growing year for the Renault F1 team. Along with Kubica's run, Renault F1 rookie Vitaly Petrov put together an overall strong effort in his young career finishing 7th and in the points. Driving against some seasoned veterans through the wet Shanghai International Circuit, Petrov passed drivers including Michael Schumacher for position.

As for the Red Bull Racing team, the 2010 Chinese Grand Prix will certainly send the Formula 1 team into a frenzy isolated the mistakes made after starting so promisingly on the front row. Losing the lead off the start, Sebestian Vettel never recovered the top spot and faded to 6th in the final results while Mark Webber could only gain 8th place.

Thanks to the two wins in four races, Jenson Button leaves China with the lead in Formula 1 points. Leading by 10 points, Button is holding off the very consistent Nico Rosberg who in turn is just a single point ahead of both Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and McLaren's Lewis Hamilton.

With a three-week break before the 2010 Formula 1 season gears for their first European round with the Spanish Grand Prix, the volcanic ash cloud activity over European skies has some officials concerned with flight arrangements. However, current reports place the likelihood of air travel being interrupted through three weeks as possible but not entirely creditable. Nonetheless, some teams will probably find the trip back to European countries from China could be complicated.


2010 Formula 1
Chinese Grand Prix
Finishing Order

1. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes
2. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
3. Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP
4. Fernando Alonso Ferrari
5. Robert Kubica Renault F1
6. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault
7. Vitaly Petrov Renault
8. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault
9. Felipe Massa Ferrari
10. Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP
11. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes
12. Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth
13. Jaime Alguersuari STR-Ferrari
14. Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth
15. Nico Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth
16. Bruno Senna HRT-Cosworth
17. Karun Chandhok HRT-Cosworth
18. Jarno Trulli Lotus-Cosworth
19. Lucas di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth
20. Pedro de la Rosa BMW Sauber-Ferrari
21. Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari
22. Kamui Kobayashi BMW Sauber-Ferrari
23. Vitantonio Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes
24. Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth

Jenson Button Wins Suspenseful Australian Grand Prix

Photo Credit: Lotus Racing

Late last year, the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park was in danger of being lost on the Formula 1 schedule. Thanks to a commitment from the Victorian government of Australia and the title sponsorship of Qantas Airways, the Australian Grand Prix was saved. Providing a early season challenge against new race equipment and Formula 1 drivers, the Australian Grand Prix enters 2010 as the first sight of colour to a gray start. Many critical reviews of the season opening 2010 Formula 1 race, Bahrain Grand Prix, judged the event as snooze-worthy.

On Sunday, the Melbourne area endured a rain shower that drenched the 3.295 mile Albert Park complex. Though the rain stopped by the time the 2010 Australian Grand Prix started, potential was already mounting for a much more eventful race than the season opener. With the field starting on intermediate thread Bridgestone tires, the start was guaranteed to challenge the 24 Formula 1 drivers struggling for grip on cooler tires. Right off the starting line, the Lotus-Cosworth of Jarno Trulli became the first retirement when his car suffered hydraulic problems. This is the second time this season that Trulli would fall out to this issue.

Intent on improving on the lost opportunity at Bahrain, German driver Sebastian Vettel rolled to pole position over his Red Bull Racing teammate Mark Webber in Saturday qualifying. As the lights went off to start the Australian Grand Prix, Vettel shot to a slight lead. With pretty of wheel-banging and contact right off the start as the Red Bull-Renault took off, the initial lap will end under with a safety car leading the all cars. A multi-car wreck between Sebastien Buemi, Nico Hulkenberg and Kamui Kobayashi into turn 6 rendered all three of these racers out of competition.

When the safety car returned to pit road, the Albert Park track had dried substantially but the track was still too slippery for most teams to elect a change to slick tires. With many drivers experiencing brief off-track excursions, the only driver who suffered a permanent effect was Renault rookie Vitaly Petrov who slid into the sand trap on lap 9 ending his race. In spite of questionable traction, the drying track tempted the McLaren F1 team to bring Jenson Button to pit lane as the first taker for stick tires. A gamble, Button was running 2nd at this point in the event for McLaren. While Button fought unsuccessfully to completely keep the Mercedes-powered McLaren on the circuit, he would continue to set faster times on the dry weather rubber.

Starting with a 1-2 start for Red Bull Racing, Australian Mark Webber lost touch with his teammate Sebastian Vettel early. Webber fell further back as a late call going to slick tires cost him time running on the slower intermediate Bridgestones. With Vettel still leading the hopes for Red Bull Racing, lap 20 would end the day for the German racing superstar. Described as a wheel issue, Vettel's car spun out the track into the turn 13 sand trap. "...I had huge vibrations building up and as soon as I touched the brakes, I had some sort of failure going in to Turn 13 and ended up in the gravel." Vettel commented on the Red Bull Racing website.

With Sebastian Vettel out of commission, the McLaren-Mercedes of Jenson Button was able to maintain a comfortable grasp on the lead as he went on to win the 2010 Australian Grand Prix. Finishing 12 seconds behind Button was the factory Renault of Robert Kubica. Running without major incident, Kubica's podium for Renault F1 is the first for the team since the 2009 Singapore Grand Prix.

In 3rd position, Felipe Massa brought the Ferrari F2010 home to his Italian race team's first Australian podium since Kimi Raikkonen's win in 2007. Following up the effort of Massa, fellow Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso arrived across the finish line fourth. Alonso position at the finish resulted are a hardest fought 3-way battle through the closing laps. Driving his McLaren-Mercedes Lewis Hamilton, attempting to recover lost ground after a pit road penalty, was slip-streaming (referred in the United States as drafting) Alonso's Ferrari with the resurgent Red Bull Renault of Mark Webber also hot pursuit for both cars. With 2 laps to go, Hamilton timed a move into a braking section on the outside of Alonso. Countering the McLaren, Alonso was successful in holding off the charge by braking only at the last minute. Disturbing Hamilton's momentum, the McLaren slowed to make the corner. However, Mark Webber did not react in time to avoid running into the back of Hamilton causing both of their cars to spin out. Losing touch with Fernando Alonso. Lewis Hamilton would finish 6th while Mark Webber would salvage a 9th place result after being his Red Bull-Renault for a front wing replacement.

After two races, the Formula 1 driver's championship points sees Fernando Alonso holding a 4 point lead over his teammate Felipe Massa. With a total of three podium finishes in the first two races of the 2010 season and their drivers first and second early in the F1 driver's championship, the Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 team is off to their best start in years.

The Formula 1 cars heads directly to Malaysia for a April 4th running of their county's Grand Prix. In the Malaysia Grand Prix last season, a heavy monsoon downpour led the FIA officials to end the race at 31 laps. Driving for Brawn GP in 2009, Jenson Button triumphed.


2010 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix Race Results

1. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes
2. Robert Kubica Renault F1
3. Felipe Massa Ferrari
4. Fernando Alonso Ferrari
5. Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP
6. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
7. Vitantonio Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes
8. Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth
9. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault
10. Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP
11. Jaime Alguersuari STR-Ferrari
12. Pedro de la Rosa BMW Sauber-Ferrari
13. Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth
14. Karun Chandhok HRT-Cosworth
15. Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth
16. Lucas di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth
17. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault
18. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes
19. Vitaly Petrov Renault
20. Bruno Senna HRT-Cosworth
21. Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari
22. Nico Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth
23. Kamui Kobayashi BMW Sauber-Ferrari
24. Jarno Trulli Lotus-Cosworth

2010 Formula 1 Season to Feature Overhauled Points System

With 6 more cars set to compete in the 2010 Formula 1 season over last year, the FIA has devised a plan to improve odds for those new teams to score their maiden points. Starting with the first grand prix of 2010, Formula teams and drivers will be fighting for more point-paying positions at the finish. The top 10 finishers will all score points. While inclusive to the smaller teams, the new points ranking passes some of the largest rewards for podium finishers. The top 3 positions will also be contending for remarkably higher point values which allows a winning driver to gain a maximum 25 points.

The expansion of eligibility to 10 drivers and teams per race represents the first change in the Formula 1 points structure since 2003. From 1950 to 1991, the top 6 cars and drivers in each grand prix race were awarded points in a format that allowed the winning team to be credited with a maximum 9 points. The 10 point incentive for winning a race was added in the 1992 Formula 1 season and continued to be the standard since the end of this past season. Having only rewarded the top-6 since the inception of Formula 1, the FIA increased the eligible positions to 8th spot in 2003 by narrowing the points spread. Back in the 2003 season, the changes could have been motivated by the an attempt to curb the Formula 1 dynasty of Michael Schumacher's and Ferrari's championship dominance (which then existed at 3 straight crowns). The move to expand to 8 points-paying position also an attempt to reward teams, which were considered F1 back-markers, to compete deeper in the constructor points. The addition of 2 more points positions is certainly a measure to allow the 4 new Formula 1 teams an opportunity to overcome the 'goose egg' in the season's final standings.

2010 Formula 1 Points System

1. 25 Points
2. 20 Points
3. 15 Points
4. 10 Points
5. 8 Points
6. 6 Points
7. 5 Points
8. 3 Points
   
9. 2 Points
10. 1 Point
    

Calculating the 2009 Formula 1 results against to 2010 points system, current F1 World Champion Jenson Button would have won handily over Sebestian Vettel and Rubens Barrichello. While the top 6 drivers in 2009 Formula 1 in the points remains unchanged under the 2010 points, driver Kazuki Nakajima (who competed for the entire 2009 F1 campaign but failed to score a single point) would have left with 5 points under the revised standings.

The expansion of eligibility to 10 drivers and teams per race represents the first change in the Formula 1 points structure since 2003. From 1950 to 1991, the top 6 cars and drivers in each grand prix race were awarded points in a format that allowed the winning team to be credited with a maximum 9 points. The 10 point incentive for winning a race was added in the 1992 Formula 1 season and continued to be the standard since the end of this past season. Having only rewarded the top-6 since the inception of Formula 1, the FIA increased the eligible positions to 8th spot in 2003 by narrowing the points spread. Back in the 2003 season, the changes could have been motivated by the an attempt to curb the Formula 1 dynasty of Michael Schumacher's and Ferrari's championship dominance (which then existed at 3 straight crowns). The move to expand to 8 points-paying position also an attempt to reward teams, which were considered F1 back-markers, to compete deeper in the constructor points. The addition of 2 more points positions is certainly a measure to allow the 4 new Formula 1 teams an opportunity to overcome the 'goose egg' in the season's final standings.

2009 F1 Champion Button Driving for McLaren in 2010

Photo Provided by Brawn GP/Mercedes Grand Prix

As the 2009 Formula 1 season ended just under a month ago, some radical off-season deals for the 2010 tour is already set to reform the grand prix starting grid. With the surprising announcement that Brawn GP operation morphing into Mercedes Grand Prix last Monday, indications pointed that the 2009 F1 World Champion Jenson Button would be housed under the new Silver Arrows banner for 2010. However, two days later, broadcasts proclaimed the reigning Formula 1 champion Button would be driving for the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes outfit in 2010. Spending 7 seasons inside the team that evolved from BAR to Honda to Brawn GP in 2009, Jenson Button responded in a in Vodafone McLaren Mercedes' official release by saying “It’s always a difficult decision to leave a team when you’ve been there for so long. But life is all about challenges – and, most important of all, it’s about challenging yourself. So, although I won the World Championship with Brawn GP last year, and I’ll never forget that, I was always adamant that I wanted to continue to set myself fresh challenges."

Teaming up with 2008 F1 champ Lewis Hamilton for an all-British driver lineup, Hamilton has been very complimentary to the entrance of Jenson Button into the McLaren F1 team. In Lewis Hamilton's words, “I already know Jenson, and we get on very well together. We both really want our team to succeed. Although we’ll be pushing each other hard, I’m sure we’ll very quickly establish a great working relationship. He’s an exceptional driver: very controlled and very smooth, and he has a real depth of knowledge and experience."

Considering the timing of Jenson Button's move to McLaren and the intricacy of Formula 1 contracts, it would be safe to believe that the planned to switch teams well before the Mercedes-Benz buy-in to Brawn GP was made official.

Mercedes-Benz Buys Majority Stake In Brawn GP; Becoming Mercedes Grand Prix in 2010

Image Acquired From Brawn GP/Mercedes Grand Prix


Winning the 2009 Formula 1 constructor champion by winning 8 times in their first season with Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello driving, Brawn GP was the Cinderella story of modern auto racing. Spun off the less than successful factory Honda Formula 1 team, former Ferrari and Renault technical director Ross Brawn retained the personal of the past team but sought the power of a Mercedes-Benz powerplant. As Brawn GP reveled as their Mercedes-Benz engines, few would have known that the German automaker wished to end their customer relationship. Instead, Mercedes-Benz (under parent company Daimler AG) decided to evolve their customer into their new factory team for 2010.

Announced Monday, Daimler AG, partnered with Abu Dhabi-based principal investment firm Aabar Investments PJSC, bought over 75.1% controlling interest to the one-year Formula 1 entrant Brawn GP. Renaming the team Mercedes Grand Prix, minority team owner and team leader Ross Brawn will continue to have an important presence in the new team.

While Brawn GP gains the factory support of Mercedes-Benz, The German auto giant also announced a change in their 14-year relationship with McLaren Mercedes Formula One. With Mercedes-Benz already possessing a 40 percent stake in this previous partnership, a preparation has been made for McLaren to buy back Mercedes-Benz's share of the team by 2011. However, as the auto manufacturer divests their interest from McLaren, Mercedes-Benz has also entered into a long-term engine supply deal for the Mclaren F1 team through the 2015 season.

F1: Vettel Victorious at 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Red Bull triumphs!

Photo Courtesy of Brawn GP


Bracing to make their circuit an attraction on the prestigious Formula One calendar construction of the Yas Marina circuit, started in 2007, was built in vision of a world class motor sport facility. At the Formula One tour arrived for the 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the United Arab Emirates state project spent the equivalent of 1.3 billion US dollars to give their dream form. Stretching 3.451 miles and consisting of 21 turns, the track provides a fusion of many F1 road courses. Tight, challenging corners reminds of Suzuka while the long high-speed sections mirror Belgium's Spa circuit. Apart from the FIA-approved race track, the Yas Marina facility includes a five-star hotel, covered grandstand seating, and a full-function water park making this race a resort community.

Jenson Button, the acclaimed 2009 Formula One World Champion, came to the Yas Marina circuit without concern for the points and really to claim his first F1 race victory since July. "Brazil was a fantastic weekend and to have won the Constructors’ and the Drivers’ Championships with Brawn GP is a very special achievement. I am incredibly proud of the whole team at Brawn GP and Mercedes-Benz High Performance Engines." Jenson Button responded going into the race. "We’ve all had a few busy days since returning to the UK and it was great for both Jenson and I to get back to the factory and thank everyone in person for their contribution to our successes. At the same time, we have been looking ahead to the final race and ensuring that all our preparations are in place for Abu Dhabi which is an important weekend for the team as we look to secure second position in the Drivers’ Championship with Rubens."

In qualifying however, the 2008 F1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton expressed some relief to relinquishing the championship crown by putting his McLaren Mercedes on the top spot. Hamilton held off the dynamic duo of Red Bull Racing as Sebestian Vettel snagged 2nd and Mark Webber qualified 3rd for the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Brawn GP pair of Rubens Barrichello and 2009 champ Jenson Button would roll off 4th and 5th.

In the race, Hamilton led the first 17 laps of the event over Vettel until a pit stop for fuel handing the lead to 2nd place Sebastian Vettel. Defeating Hamilton's chance at winning the final race of the F1 season, Hamilton's McLaren had to be withdrawn from competition due to brake problems. With McLaren's second car driven by Heikki Kovalainen finishing 11th, the 2009 F1 season treated the McLaren team particularly rough placing a distant third in the final constructor point tally.

Sebestian Vettel went unchallenged after Hamilton's retirement, piloting his Renault-powered Red Bull machine to a third win for 2009. A breakout season for the 22 year old German, he finished the F1 season scoring 14 points more than Button through the final 6 races. Also emerging triumphant this season for Red Bull is Mark Webber after 7 seasons in Formula One. Webber finished second in the 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix providing a strong finish for Red Bull Racing as a whole.

With the driver's points settled, Button and his Brawn GP team enjoyed a productive race which resulted in a 3rd place podium finish. First year team owner Ross Brawn commented on the success of the 2009 outing saying "To go through the trauma of the winter months and make it to the first race and then achieve eight Grand Prix victories and the Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships in our first year is an outstanding achievement."

As the 2009 Formula One season ends under an unique Formula One sunset, this tour will be remembered as a definitive moment for the once underdogs of the world championship of auto racing. Button winning a championship after 10 seasons in the series, 18 year F1 veteran Rubens Barrichello enjoying a 3rd place points finish (his best since his tenure with Ferrari) and the rise of two teams (Brawn GP and Red Bull Racing) over the established Ferrari and McLaren creations.

The 2010 Formula One season promises have the ingredients to another unpredictable year as new teams, new rules and new drivers are certain to tint the complexion of the top open wheel series on the planet.

2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix- Race Results

1. Sebastian Vettel RBR-Renault
2. Mark Webber RBR-Renault
3. Jenson Button Brawn-Mercedes
4. Rubens Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes
5. Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber
6. Kamui Kobayashi Toyota
7. Jarno Trulli Toyota
8. Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari
9. Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota
10. Robert Kubica BMW Sauber
11. Heikki Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes
12. Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari
13. Kazuki Nakajima Williams-Toyota
14. Fernando Alonso Renault
15. Vitantonio Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes
16. Giancarlo Fisichella Ferrari
17. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes
18. Romain Grosjean Renault
19. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (Out due to Brakes)
20. Jaime Alguersuari STR-Ferrari (Out due to Gearbox)

Button Clinches 2009 F1 Championship at Brazilian Grand Prix

As Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber won the Brazilian Grand Prix for Formula one second last round of 2009, the man of the hour was not even on the podium. Brawn GP's driver Jenson Button rose to the spotlight relished his 5th place finish. Though not so impressive by itself, the points finish was more than enough to lock Englishman's hard-earned Formula one title after a Cinderella-like 2009 grand prix season.

After 10 seasons of competition in the formula one world championship, Jenson Button spent much of that time overcoming the excessive hype from his introduction as a 20 year old driver in the 2000 F1 season. Having just one grand prix victory prior to 2009, Button's career looked less than certain after Honda decided to withdraw from formula one after 2008. As Honda's F1 program was bought by the team principal Ross Brawn, Brawn was confident enough on Button's abilities to retain the now 29 year old racer.

Contending with the essentially new team of Brawn GP at the season opening Australian Grand Prix, Jenson Button promise showed in a brilliant performance which would shape the most interesting underdog efforts in Formula One. Outwitting established teams names of McLaren and Ferrari, the Mercedes-Benz engined Brawn stormed to pole and set himself up for victory in Australia. Giving the Brawn GP car a win in its inaugural outing, Button turned heads which had than been focused on Lewis Hamilton or even Kimi Räikkönen. Winning five of the six races following the 2009 F1 season opener, early year tear propelled the team as the top outfit in motorsports in only months.

However, as the season appeared to become a cakewalk for Button and Brawn GP, other Formula One teams applied themselves to the axiom 'standing still is moving backwards'. While teams stepping up their efforts is not a surprise, amazement came from which the fact that Red Bull Racing was providing the greatest challenge to Brawn GP. 22 year old Sebestian Vettel carried the Red Bull Racing flag for 2009 as he held close to Button in the point standings. Rubens Barrichello, who supported the Brawn GP cause with two wins of his own, was also a leading contender as Button's winning ways faded through the season.

Nonetheless, even though Jenson Button has gone winless since early July, he kept logging points with his Brawn Mercedes-Benz to secure the championship with one race left on the schedule.

Brawn's Barrichello Batters Best in Brazil GP Qualifying

The penultimate round of the 2009 Formula one season, the Brazilian Grand Prix is set to become an important moment where Brawn GP Jenson's Button could lock up the 2009 F1 driver's championship. However, for Saturday afternoon qualifying, it was Brawn GP teammate Rubens Barrichello is taking the headlines so far in Brazil. Starting his home race on the front row Barrichello will be joined by Red Bull Racing's driver Mark Webber.

The thunder of the Formula one cars in qualifying were accompanied by a persistent rain shower over the Interlagos road course. With formula one competitors reverting to their wet weather tires as the first qualifying started, Japanese grand prix victor Sebestian Vettel took top spot in the early minutes of the session. Living the dream of every Italian race car driver, Rome born Giancarlo Fisichella is making the most of his time the F60 Ferrari race car. Fisichella was second in the early stages of the first qualifying until he lost traction and later an opportunity to fend off the faster field during the latter stage of the session. The stopped Ferrari as well as the significant rainfall brought out a red flag. By the end of session #1, both driver's times were eclipsed as other drivers took advantage of slightly better track conditions. Also suffering from a lack of speed in the first round of Brazilian Grand Prix qualifying was 2008 F1 champ Lewis Hamilton and young Red Bull hopeful Sebestian Vettel who's early fastest lap also came up short. Vettel, to start in 15th place on Sunday, holds a slim but mathematically possible challenge against Button.

As session two qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix started, the Force India car of Vitantonio Liuzzi wrecked in spectacular fashion. After catching a large wet patch of standing water along the pit stretch, Luizzi hydroplanned into the inner wall sliding into turn one where he collided with the outer barriers. Vitantonio Liuzzi was unhurt but his Force India racer sustained substantial damage. As track crews cleaned up the wreckage of Liuzzi's accident under a second red flag, the break was extended by 40 minutes as a result of the afternoon rain showers intensifying.

In the third and final 10 minute qualifying session was when Rubens Barrichello streaked through the wet Interlagos circuit the successor in an eventful battle with five other drivers for top speed.

The Brazilian Grand Prix is set to roll at 2pm local time (12-noon Eastern time).

1. Rubens Barrichello- Brawn GP
2. Mark Webber- Red Bull
3. Adrian Sutil- Force India
4. Jarno Trulli- Toyota
5. Kimi Raikkonen- Ferrari
6. Sebastien Buemi- Toro Rosso
7. Nico Rosberg- Williams
8. Robert Kubica- BMW Sauber
9. Kazuki Nakajima- Williams
10. Fernando Alonso- Renault
11. Kamui Kobayashi- Toyota
12. Jaime Alguersuari- Toro Rosso
13. Romain Grosjean- Renault
14. Jenson Button- Brawn GP
15. Sebastian Vettel- Red Bull
16. Heikki Kovalainen- McLaren
17. Lewis Hamilton- McLaren
18. Nick Heidfeld- BMW Sauber
19. Giancarlo Fisichella- Ferrari
20. Vitantonio Liuzzi- Force India (Moved to move due to transmission change)