My Motorsport Blog

As a F1 fan I am never nervous before the start of a Grand Prix because it is time the beer and snacks are seen to and my domain (the lounge and TV) secured against intrusion. I must add that this Sunday was no exception but I did feel a tinge of nerves (and no beer) and a wish for the Brawn GP Team to finish on the podium. Just to prove all the “Experts” wrong. You see I hoped for one of the new Brawn GP cars to cross the line in any of the first three places. I did hope that the Fairy Tale (not tail) would come true and Brawn GP takes 1st and 2nd.

This wish was shattered when Rubens Barrichello had such a bad start and then used his new car in a destruction derby on the first lap. To my amazement the car did not disintegrate as expected but kept going and did quite well. With confidence regained I had another glimmer hope but in the dying stages of the race Robert Kubica with his BMW became a threat and I did think a second or third place would be the end result for Jenson Button . But then Robert Kubica and Sebastian Vettel decided to have a little business meeting on the track while discussing the second position that they were contesting.

Not wishing others harm but I did have a smile. Rubens and the other Brawn GP car inherited second place. The lottery escaped me but the Fairy Tale ended as this writer had hoped.

On the 4th July 1954 Mercedes-Benz returned to Formula One racing with a one-two win at the French Grand Prix with the Mercedes -Benz W196. Since 1954 no other team achieved this but on the 29th March 2009 Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello repeated history and a new team with a new car had a one-two finish in a Formula One Grand Prix.

Now just for some fun are you a F1 driver…..check your reaction times against what Shell recons it should be. After that, can you refuel your car like this?