Tag: Brawn GP
Racing or Swimming in Sepang
by Chris on Mar.31, 2009, under F1
The circuit is 5.543Km or 3.444 miles in length, 10 right hand corners and 5 left. The lap record is held by Juan Pablo Montoya with a time lap time of 1:34,223. The Ferrari’s had a one-two position on the grid in 2008 and Kimi Räikkönen won the race with Robert Kubica and Heikki Kovalainen second and third respectively.
The circuit is of course Sepang, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and at this stage we could be in for a storm……NO!!!! I actually do mean a storm. The weather forecasts for Saturday and Sunday show thunder showers so this link will help you monitor the situation. However, we have a new team and they do not seem interested in the weather or taking prisoners and want to win. I am referring to Brawn GP and they could repeat their Australian performance in Sepang if the car handles well in the wet.
I do not really want to speculate about this because the cars are completely different from last year but we know that Brawn GP, Toyota and Williams have an advantage with their respective aero-packages. I am however tempted to say that Brawn GP will feature in the top 5 this weekend. Looking at the results of 2008 in which Räikkönen won, followed by Robert Kubica, Kovalainen, Trulli, Hamilton, Heidfeld, Webber and Alonso. To these I would gladly add the names of Jenson Button, Rubens Barrichello and Felipe Massa as potential front runners.
Nick Heidfeld still holds the fastest lap at this circuit but he will have to make sure he qualifies well. It would have been great to see Sebastian Vettel in this pack but with the penalty he received in Australia it will be a hard day’s work in the “office” for the young man. Looking at this picture of Nick and Robert I do wonder what it is with F1 drivers and the “fluff” on their faces? We really need Wilkinson to add some sponsorship to this formula.
Looking at comments made by team and driver previews on the official F1 site it would appear that they have not looked at the weather forecast and this includes Hirohide Hamashima, Bridgestone director of motorsport tyre development because they are all concerned about the heat in Sepang. Granted Hirohide did mention the later start time and rain.
I believe the decision to start later at these circuits were wrong as the changes in track temperature and the setting sun were commented on in Australia by several drivers. It does make the race more exiting though.
Australian GP- A Fairy Tale In The Making?
by Chris on Mar.28, 2009, under F1
2009 AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIXSATURDAY POST-QUALIFYING PRESS CONFERENCE
Jenson BUTTON: I wish. The last five or six months for both of us have been so tough because of going from not having a drive or any future in racing to putting it on pole here is just amazing, it really is and I have got to give all credit to the team and Ross (Brawn) and Nick (Fry) for making this happen. This is where we deserve to be after the tough times we have had.
After the qualifying round for the Australian GP I can not say I am surprised at the results. I will say that I agree with Eddie Irvine in that this is a fairy story. With Richard Brandson showing interest in the Brawn GP Team for what could possibly be a long run and although I appreciate that Ross Brawn needs the money, it would be a shame if Virgin is to replace the Brawn GP brand name. History has been made for a brand new team and it should last for a longer period.
Kimi and Filepe went farming after what Martin Brundle described as “Giving it big bannana’s”. The new cars (all of them) has to be driven with care it seems and Massa had several big moments during qualifying. The big “Hoo Ha” about KERS could be a factor but as Eddie Irvine said, it is something the Americans played around with in the past and it should not be in F1. I think I agree
Brawn GP 2009
by Chris on Mar.17, 2009, under F1
So the real good news is that Ross Brawn GP is progressing well at Jerez and times are favourable with that of Renault and Fernando Alonso. For the first “Official Test” in 2009 this is not bad going. I believe Honda made the right decision in selling out to Ross Brawn because he has the experience to run a F1 team at the highest level. Michael Schumacher stated that Ross Brawn at Ferrari were “very logical and well organised and have a flair to keep the structure and correct people in place”.
His drivers have all the experience to develop and ensure progression and development and his senior management team is still in place. Work never stopped even in the face of impending closure by Honda but I believe it was Ross Brawn that managed to keep a potentially great team intact. I believe Brawn GP have the right to be on the grid at Melbourne and it would be good to see them do well in the first race. Even though Ross thanked Honda for closing a deal with him I believe most F1 enthusiasts felt a sense of relief that Honda did not sell out to USF1 or even Virgin. Had this happened we would not have seen the team at the Melbourne starting grid.
The fact that Mercedes Benz have closed a deal in supplying engines to the Brawn GP Team would be another feather in the cap of Ross and a indication of how others value his contribution to this sport. I look forward to the first race at Melbourne and how this team will perform.
