Chinese GP - Button quickest in Shanghai practice
Eurosport - Fri, 17 Apr 22:15:00 2009
Jenson Button made the best possible start to his quest for a third successive Formula One victory by setting the quickest lap time in Friday's two practice sessions for the Chinese Grand Prix.
The Briton, who won the first two races of the season from pole position, again showed the pace of his Brawn GP car with a storming lap of one minute 35.679 seconds late in the second session.
"We've improved a car a lot over the day, but there's still a bit more work to do until I'm completely happy," said the 29-year-old, who leads the championship by five points from team mate Rubens Barrichello.
"There seemed to be a lot of traffic on the track today so my main concern was finding some clear air."
German Nico Rosberg also left it late before posting a time of 1:35.704 for Williams to edge Brazilian Barrichello (1:35.881) and deny Brawn GP the top two times of the day.
The Brawns were expected to dominate the weekend after their rear diffuser was declared legal on Wednesday but the Red Bulls of Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel -- fourth and fifth quickest -- showed it was possible to go fast without one.
"We had perfect driving conditions today so we'll see how we go tomorrow. I enjoyed it out there," said Australian Webber.
World champion Lewis Hamilton had put his McLaren team's troubles behind him by setting the quickest time in first practice but faded in the second session.
The 24-year-old Briton, whose title defence has been marred by struggles on the track and controversy off it, finished 13th fastest in the quicker afternoon session at the track where he claimed his last win in the penultimate race of last season.
"The team have worked very hard but we've still got a long way to go," he said.
Ferrari's travails also continued with Brazilian Felipe Massa 12th fastest in second practice and Kimi Raikkonen managing only the 14th best time for the reigning constructors' champions.
Raikkonen came off the track in both sessions, one of several drivers struggling with grip as teams weighed their tyre choices for the weekend.
"The point is we are too slow compared to the teams currently at the top of the order," said the Finnish 2007 world champion.
"We must try and improve the car, at the moment we are not able to fight for the title."
The third practice session takes place before qualifying on Saturday.
Play Fantasy F1 - join up now by clicking on the link under the picture; then form a mini-league with friends, family or colleagues and watch your progress in your national league. You may just find yourself at the top of the grid!
This site is Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! and Eurosport. All rights reserved.
- Terms of Service
- Updated Privacy Policy
- Copyright/IP Policy
- Remarks and Suggestions
- Corporate info
- Jobs at Eurosport
Notice: We collect personal information on this site. To learn more about how we use your information, see our Privacy Policy.
Comment 136 - 155 of 155
clipsyduck: My question about Honda is a valid question, it actually takes longer that the off season to design and develop a car, teams don't designs cars within a week. This process takes time and resources throughout the previous season, and Honda financed the development of this years Brawn regardles what engine is in it now.
D.Bristow
i am a hero in the fatherland.
Hey! How's the Chinese foods?Want more fryrice?Good luck guys.God blessing you.Go BrawnGP Go!!!!It is time.Rubens.Fight for V......
@ Mags: I agree, but.... there already id a NASCAR. Why make another?
F1 is about something different than NASCAR, is about pushing the limits of technology (somebody shoud tell this to max and bernie also)
I agree with mags' idea...but they already did One-Make-Races with A1GP...
...
Bring NASCAR to F1 and watch the crowds grow and the competition improve. Make all the cars the same, no aero advantages. Weight, design, tires and suspension would be built, set and inspected by F1. The only variables would engine manufacturer and drivers. All of the cars except for Ferrari and Toyota are managed by independent business owners. Again other than a few companies most consumers will never experience the technological advances developed by F1 during their morning commute. In addition, you will remove all the controversy around issues like diffusers, bilige boards, wing design etc, etc, etc, etc ,etc, etc, etc, etc ......... Comon all you make believe racing experts - join the good ole boys and lose the stuffy, jet set, elitist, snob feast, crack open a Bud and go racin.
i will be back in spain, massa is losing his seat,i am determined my beloved ferrari will win again,i am the best ,ferrari is best,i am a hero in the fatherland.
Let's face it, the only real driver that he beats is Reuben. That's all. The season will be won because of engineers, not drivers. So silly F1.
go jenson and all the folk that think its down to the car dont be so stupid schumacher was a great but wouldnt have won every thing if his car wasnt the best the two need to go hand in hand to win races the car dont race its self
Hello my f1 brain boxes, its your peruvian friend here, me Marnio.
now the mclaren men have shot mr ronald dennis, i think it only the matter of the time before mr hamilton son is given his munching orders to. no more corruption in the f1. after he gone they will promote mr hamilton's father from his present position of chief engineering development manager and hanger on, to driver. mr hamilton's father will be great f1 driver, much better than his son. he will drop the rover v8 engine in the mclaren and fit the ripspeed exhaust system to the car. he will go into the race with some sandwiches and a flask of the coffee so he not have to make the pit stop. most of all he will drive sensibly and carefully, paying the extra attention for the pedestrian, the cyclist and cars that have stopped in the pit lane.
my friends the mclaren men are cleaning themselves the up. at the last our protests have worked.
Brains and honesty...... how many other f1 teams can brag those qualities ??
Go Jenson,Rubens and Brawn GP !!!
Button's success just shows how much its the car and not the driver in F1. Mr MaGoo could win this year in a Brawn car.
Now i must go too!!!, it's the right thing to do.........
"Ban Touronroute from Yahoo/Eurosport message board"
maurice #126. Err whats this you say,"Gromet is the kind of person who only supports the winning team".Well that would have put me with you in the red camp for most of the last 15yrs which is unlikely as I was avvin a go you div.Never mind,work on your sense of humour,or don't bother reading my posts,you won't understand them.P.S. Gromet is a puppy,not a person.
Good job.Jenson.Hoping you or rubens take the champion to home this year.Go BrawnGP Go.....Kick them A.....S.....S!!!!!!!
Go on Button, you are clearly the best driver out there by miles, just a shame you have never had a decent car until now to prove it.
I can't stop laughing at the fate of Ferrari and those Mclaren lot. Two best teams??? I dont think so.
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA.
Let's hope Brawn or Toyota win it this year as we're all sick of the 2 horse race of Ferrari and Mclaren! I'd love Brawn to win as the plucky underdog - but also Toyota as they'e spent a fortune and won bugger all. And of neither of those win then OH FUDGE! Go Lewis!!!
Alright my son!!!!
COOORRRR BLIMEY Mrs, what a luvly pair you have there FAAANTASTIC!!
Luvleeeeeeee jubleeeeeeeeeeee, you bleeeders.
Well, bless my old cotton socks, it is true - the car dictates who wins the race. It has very little to do with the driver.
Gor blimey, the only exception to the rule is that Mike Schummacher. That geezer was in another league. He could have won an F1 race on a pogo stick.
All the best to ya, and look after yer mother....you cowsons.
Please login to post a comment
Not already a Yahoo! user ? Sign up to get a free Yahoo! Account