There is always a certain pressure that is added to any Formula One driver once he wins his maiden World Championship. One of the main questions is will he be able to successfully defend his crown or even put in a worthy defense? After the Chinese Grand Prix today Jenson Button is showing the Formula One world why he is the defending champion. Once again in tough, changeable conditions which included many dashes to the pits, two safety car intervals and two rain showers, the Briton produced a stunning drive and managed to keep his team mate Lewis Hamilton behind and was able to firmly beat him over the course of the race. Button now leads the championship by 10 points, a similar position he found himself exactly a year ago this month.
Jenson seemed in his element throughout a somewhat tough and tricky race which had seen him start from the 3rd row of the grid. An early safety car period and rain shower gave Button an opportunity similar to that in Australia, in which he once again mastered his tyre decision to take full advantage of others who didnt. Though his intermediates were struggling towards the end due to bad graining, Button showed his supreme skill in managing his tyres right to the very end. Hamilton's tyres in contrast to his team-mates were much more worn. Button's smooth driving skill on a slippery track today was just one of the many highlights from an entertaining race. Hamilton may be quick in the wet, but Button's driving today and his second win of the season puts him well into the lead in this interesting Mclaren battle of the team mates.
One has to feel sorry once again for the Red Bulls who after once again locking out the front row of the grid happened to find themselves struggling for a wet performance and finished in the latter part of the points. Sebastien Vettel, who after only one win with four pole positions to show for it, may just rue these opening four races when it comes to the end of the season. The Red Bulls have the qualifying pace but their race performance, reliability and race strategies in these opening four races have since been questionable.
Nico Rosberg finds himself in second place in the championship after a strong drive despite nursing home his Mercedes car to the finish. This has been probably one of the finest races the young German has driven and was at one point in the lead for the race and looking quite handy, until Button's crucial tyre decision. For the fourth race in a row Rosberg comprehensively out-paced, out-qualified and out-raced his illustrious team mate Michael Schumacher. Schmumacher in talking to the media about his struggles seems to be a different man from his Ferrari days. If results went this way in the early naughies, Schumacher would have always been reluctant to talk to the media or even give a slight opinion. Now he seems more inclined than ever. He may not be driving the best and is certainly not at home in this Mercedes car but it looks like Schumi is just happy to back driving, no matter what result.
Another team mate situation that seems to get more and more intriguing is down in the Ferrari pits. Fernando Alonso, like Rosberg for the fourth race in a row has managed to out-pace his team mate and finds himself not only ahead of the Brazilian in the championship, but he seems with each passing race as the true patriarch within the Marenello squad. Rumours have been rife throughout the weekend that Renault's Robert Kubica has been lined up to replace Massa for 2011. Massa has been questioned this weekend and has since denied any reports, even saying he has been in "no rush" to sign any new deal at Ferrari. This is where Alonso comes into play. If he continues out out perform Massa the plucky Brazilian might look to drive elsewhere for the good of his career instead of constantly playing second fiddle to Alonso, who on his day is the best out there. Despite two more stops than team mate Massa, Alonso still managed to finish well ahead of him. One has to wonder will this trend continue.
The Chinese pit lane was the scene of quite a few incidents over the race weekend. Hamilton and Vettel were released side by side down the pit lane during a heated moment during the race where pit stops and track position was crucial. They have since been reprimanded and will face no further action. Hamilton beforehand also made a very late move to the pits despite corning the final turn, decided to make a move to the pits, cutting across the gravel trap and then tightly into the pits. Had there been more traffic, such a move could have been quite dangerous. Fernando Alonso also made an audacious move on non other than his team mate on the tight right angle entrance to the pits, where he managed to squeeze down the inside of Massa and thus first into the pits. Ferrari have since played down Alonso's move with Alonso adding that "If he was not my team-mate, there wouldn't be so much talk about it,".
Formula One now takes a three week break as teams digest the opening four fly-away event. The European season kicks off in May with a visit to Barcelona, scene of many winter tests this year and in the past. Many teams know the Circuit de Catalunya very thanks to this. But the current Icelandic volcanic ash cloud which has brought European travel to a standstill could have a part to play still. Many Formula One teams could find themselves stranded in China for some days yet as travel has been hit hard by this natural occurance. Thankfully, this three week break does give the teams more time than most race breaks which can be two or even a week long. Many teams will be bringing valuable updates to their cars when the Formula One season reassembles in Barcelona. Will it still be Red Bull come then or do Ferrari, Mclaren and Mercedes have something up their sleeves.
No comments:
Post a Comment