FORMULA 1 Live

Bahrain GP - The Race (57 Laps)

Sunday April 26, 2009 | Finished

94 comments | Write your comment

  1. Stunning victory for Button in Bahrain

    Stunning victory for Button in Bahrain

    Jenson Button of Brawn GP completed his third win out of four in 2009 at the Bahrain GP ahead of Sebastian Vettel and Jarno Trulli. More

Race live standing

Live Commentary

  1. 0' Out of the points are Rosberg (Williams), Piquet (Renault), Webber (Red Bull), Kovalainen (McLaren), Bourdais (Toro Rosso), Massa (Ferrari), Fisichella (Force India), Sutil (Force India), Buemi (Toro Rosso), Kubica (BMW) and Hedifeld (BMW).

  2. 0' McLaren's Hamilton fourth ahead of Barrichello (Brawn), Raikkonen (Ferrari), Glock (Toyota) and Alonso (Renault).

  3. 0' Vettel and Trulli also on the podium for Red Bull and Toyota respectively - nice and diverse.

  4. 0' Button wins the Bahrain GP for Brawn!! He is whooping inside the car!! A third win out of four for him this season.

  5. 1' A relatively straightforward race then enters its final lap - at least compared with the opening three of the season. It is almost a relief!! It has been no procession, however.

  6. 2' It is good to see Hamilton and Raikkonen still competing up there despite their cars - Kovalainen and Massa not faring quite so well.

  7. 3' Button half the length of the start/finish straight clear of Vettel, who is holding off Trulli.

  8. 4' So with four laps remaining Button leads from Vettel, Trulli, Hamilton, Barrichello, Raikkonen, Glock, Alonso, Rosberg, Piquet, Webber, Bourdais, Massa, Fisichella, Sutil, Buemi, Kubica and Heidfeld.

  9. 5' Button leading comfortably again. The main battle now is for second. Hamilton is not going to catch Trulli.

  10. 6' Fisichella had just had a coming together with Massa which annoyed him as he was forced off the track.

  11. 7' The Japanese back out quickly though to the pit-wall, looking rueful, to discuss things with his mechanics. Button blocked off by Fisichella after the blue flag was waved!!

  12. 8' Nakajima is out!! That is the first retirement of the afternoon. He removes his helmet in the Williams garage and goes off for a mope.

  13. 9' Glock in ninth loses it for a moment and Finn Raikkonen pulls away.

  14. 10' Barrichello does indeed come in for a third stop, as McLaren predicted; Hamilton now fourth. Raikkonen gets held up behind the Brawn driver.

  15. 11' Kubica spins on track and has to swing around again to continue. The closest we have come to someone entering the dirt since the opening lap.

  16. 11' Hamilton on his own, five seconds behind fourth and eight ahead of sixth.

  17. 12' Button 13 seconds clear. Trulli bears down on Vettel behind the Brawn GP driver.

  18. 13' Raikkonen finally pits and is just behind Glock; he overtakes with a shot of KERS on the outside though for seventh, with Rosberg still only having stopped once in front of them.

  19. 14' Trulli fighting Vettel now, a second the difference between them, with Barrichello the best part of a second further back. They have left Lewis behind.

  20. 15' The track dusty, situated in the desert of course. Button will watch his medium-compound tyres to make sure he doesn't throw this away.

  21. 16' Massa 12th and not looking likely to compete for points. No retirements from this race so far...

  22. 17' Vettel into the pit-lane. Button through into first almost immediately but the Red Bull star manages to take third ahead of Trulli, which amounts to second as Raikkonen is still to come in.

  23. 18' Raikkonen faring a good deal better than Massa, although his third place at present will disappear when he stops again.

  24. 19' Barrichello shoots up the inside of Trulli but is hauled back on the exit. Hamilton's team are convinced the Brazilian is going to have to pit again...

  25. 20' Trulli and Hamilton into the pits together, and out in that order; Barrichello separates them on track though!! Button has also been in and Vettel leads the race - for now.

  26. 21' Ferrari are looking to introduce some new parts in the next race in Spain, start of the European season. 2009 calendar

  27. 22' Massa down in 17th sees the blue flag waving as Button comes right up behind him - he is obliged to let him pass, being a lap ahead. However he is not yet getting close enough to him...

  28. 23' Nakajima now dead last after German Heidfeld passed him.

  29. 24' Glock pits to get some more super-softs, as seems to be the favoured move. He rejoins in 10th, just behind Piquet.

  30. 26' The fight for the podium is the most interesting but Glock versus Raikkonen for fifth is also compelling. Alonso and Barrichello follow, the latter already pitted twice remember...

  31. 27' A massive 13.4s advantage for Button from Trulli now. He is pulling away. The win is there for the taking for the championship leader.

  32. 28' Hamilton told by his McLaren team that he is fuelled for two more laps than Trulli. They believe that he is fighting the Italian for a podium spot.

  33. 29' Webber seems to be stagnating in 12th after his initial charge up the order. The Red Bull driver not enjoying as fruitful a time this weekend as the last.

  34. 30' Vettel and Hamilton behind Trulli with Button in clean air.

  35. 31' Heidfeld must be feeling pretty miserable in dead last. Nakajima seprates the two BMWs, with Kubica equally woeful.

  36. 32' Barrichello comes in a second time after hitting traffic following a quick few laps. On the super-softs, he nips out in front of Rosberg and part of the Williams man's nose flies off. Only a small piece, but that could be crucial in this aerodynamics-led sport.

  37. 33' The drivers tearing around this baking hot circuit, looking to make up ground ahead of the next round of stops which will largely determine the outcome of the race.

  38. 34' Button's lead is seven seconds. Barrichello is fifth ahead of Glock, with Raikkonen effectively behind him then Alonso.

  39. 35' Button leads the grand prix then from Trulli, with Vettel and Hamilton following.

  40. 36' Raikkonen replaces his super-softs like for like. He emerges in eighth behind Piquet, who is yet to stop.

  41. 37' Barrichello passes Glock and Vettel right up behind Trulli.

  42. 38' Vettel, who set his quickest lap-time on the last lap, comes out between Trulli and Rosberg. The Williams is yet to transfer its good practice form to the races.

  43. 39' In comes Vettel, who may have built enough of a lead on Trulli to come back out ahead of him...

  44. 40' Vettel and Raikkonen at the front but yet to pit. Rosberg also needs to come in; Piquet holding off Brazilian compatriot Piquet in eighth!!

  45. 41' Button also back out ahead of both Toyotas, while Hamilton is directly in front of Glock. We'll bring you a race order when everyone has been in.

  46. 42' In comes Button, likewise Hamilton. The latter is quicker in the pits but with the garages some way apart, Button is comfortably ahead on the exit.

  47. 43' Alonso nudges past Trulli!! He basically let him past on the outside instead of pushing him off the circuit. The Spaniard a bit lucky to keep the place.

  48. 44' Trulli back out in sixth!! Glock now ninth. Button and Hamilton one and two for now.

  49. 45' Trulli pits too, even though he was fuelled more heavily; he changes from the super-soft tyre - which everyone used from the start - to the medium coumpound.

  50. 46' Barrichello right up behind Vettel, who is not driving his best so far today; Glock pits and Trulli takes over the lead. He re-emerges behind Rosberg in 10th.

  51. 47' Button has been told to keep the engine revs down to save it; Vettel meanwhile is told to save his tyres.

  52. 48' Vettel and Barrichello are close behind Hamilton but there is a gap between them and Raikkonen and Alonso.

  53. 49' Button four seconds in arrears of Trulli, while Hamilton is five further back.

  54. 50' Massa 17th after his stop. Kovalaianen is 13th and Kubica 18th.

  55. 51' Webber touches the dirt but keeps control. Alonso went wide from the start but is eighth, only one place lower down the order than he started from.

  56. 52' Piquet Jr up five places from his starting position of 15 while Webber is 11th - up seven!! That is good news for this commentator's fantasy team... Webber already closing on Piquet.

  57. 53' Glock 1.6 seconds clear of Trulli. The former is fuelled the lighter of the two.

  58. 54' Massa coming into the pits after maintaining eighth position depite locking it up early on - there seems to be a KERS problem.

  59. 55' Kubica and Nakajima into the pits to replace their respective nosecones - they collided on the opening corners with debris flying everywhere!!

  60. 55' Webber already making up places from the back, up into 13th, while Glock is now leading the Bahrain GP!!

  61. 56' Button passes Hamilton for third!! A clean move by the Briton, on the Briton.

  62. 57' Trulli keeps the lead from team-mate Glock with Button in fourth ahead of Vettel, Raikkonen, Barrichello, Massa, Alonso and Rosberg.

  63. 57' Hamilton up into third from fifth at the first corner!!

  64. 57' And we are go go go in the Bahrain GP!!

  65. - "The best KERS car is Lewis Hamilton in P5," says Timo Glock. "And that could be a little worry for us up to the first corner. I think the KERS cars have shown that they are really, really strong at the start, so I hope we have a clean start and not the same problems that we had in Malaysia and get a clean race."

  66. - The drivers begin their warm-up lap ahead of this race in extremely hot conditions.

  67. - Adrian Sutil was demoted three places to 19th for blocking Mark Webber in qualifying, an incident that helped condemn the Aussie to a Q1 failure.

  68. - Just in case the spring-time sun has addled your brain, here is a reminder of first 10 on the grid: 1. Jarno Trulli (Toyota), 2. Timo Glock (Toyota), 3. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull), 4. Jenson Button (Brawn GP), 5. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren), 6. Rubens Barrichello (Brawn GP), 7. Fernando Alonso (Renault), 8. Felipe Massa (Ferrari), Nico Rosberg (Williams), Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari).

  69. - Good morning, motors fans! Just over 15 minutes to go now until the fourth race of the year - the Bahrain GP.

Circuit Map

Manama Circuit
 

About the Bahrain GP

Length 5.412 km
Laps 57 (308.238 Km)
Last Year 1, 2, 3 1. F. Massa 2. K. Raikkonen 3. R. Kubica
Record Lap M. Schumacher - 1'30''252 (2004, Ferrari)
Record Pole M. Schumacher - 1'30''139 (2004, Ferrari)
Last Year Pole R. Kubica - 1'33''096 (BMW Sauber)

Previous winners

Year Driver
2008 F.Massa (Ferrari)
2007 F.Massa (Ferrari)
2006 F. Alonso (Renault)
2005 F. Alonso (Renault)
2004 M. Schumacher (Ferrari)

Comment 15 - 34 of 94

Sort comments by: Most recent
  1. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    go ferrari, button is to old to be a champion...­ dickheadsss

    From frank reinier V, on Sun 26 Apr 1:09PM
  2. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Get a PS3/Wii/Xbox 360 etc for only £5 or even free ­­­ from: go4it.freebiejeebies. co . uk (copy/paste and­­­­ remove spaces) Sign up and complete ONE of the listed­ ­­ offers to qualify. I would recommend the Lovefilm­­ trial­ (free) or Coral (place a £5 bet) bbc approved,­ I­ even ­ got my hdtv from this site, don't miss­ out­ like so ­ many others

    From mooresrachel, on Sun 26 Apr 1:07PM
  3. did you see button take hamilton for 3rd? great­ stuff!!!

    From tinywirral, on Sun 26 Apr 1:06PM
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Get a PS3/Wii/Xbox 360 etc for only £5 or even free ­­­ from: go4it.freebiejeebies. co . uk (copy/paste and­­­­ remove spaces) Sign up and complete ONE of the listed­ ­­ offers to qualify. I would recommend the Lovefilm­­ trial­ (free) or Coral (place a £5 bet) bbc approved,­ I­ even ­ got my hdtv from this site, don't miss­ out­ like so ­ many others

    From mooresrachel, on Sun 26 Apr 1:06PM
  5. go aussie mark webber

    From philip, on Sun 26 Apr 1:05PM
  6. the commentator on bbc is a bit flat. who is he??? not­ as pumped up as the usual guy

    From papillon soo soo, on Sun 26 Apr 1:05PM
  7. Cmon Toyota .... You can do it. I think they stand a­ fantastic chance

    From Shafi Ahmed, on Sun 26 Apr 1:04PM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    lewis 2 win!!! BELIEVE!!!

    From Leon, on Sun 26 Apr 1:04PM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Lewis will win this... you'll see....there would be­ a good weather bcuz bahrain doesnt have rainy days too­ much!

    From Shahab, on Sun 26 Apr 1:03PM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    HAMILTON TO WIN ALL THE WAY

    From leighstarbuck, on Sun 26 Apr 1:01PM
  11. I hope Jenson Button wins. Lewis 'Pinocchio'­ Hamilton will almost certainly be penalised at the­ disciplinary hearing in Paris next week for lying to­ stewards in Australia in order to stop another driver­ from obtaining the place he deserved by fininishing in­ front of him, in an attempt to get more F1 points for­ himself.

    From Tom..., on Sun 26 Apr 1:01PM
  12. Timo Glock to win woooo

    From chrisford177, on Sun 26 Apr 1:00PM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Hamilton to win.

    From bparsanejad, on Sun 26 Apr 1:00PM
  14. vettel will win, button 2nd

    From tinywirral, on Sun 26 Apr 12:58PM
  15. come on button a true raceing champ

    From jamie, on Sun 26 Apr 12:58PM
  16. vettel is gona winn!!! GO SEBASTIAN!!!!!

    From davidmircea196840, on Sun 26 Apr 12:56PM
  17. Lewis will probably win this one.

    From Andrew Gibson, on Sun 26 Apr 12:53PM
  18. come on lewis hamiltion

    From william12316, on Sun 26 Apr 12:52PM
  19. go on jenson

    From paul.oneill90, on Sun 26 Apr 12:51PM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Alonso for the win!!!!

    From rogue, on Sun 26 Apr 12:40PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account