Rubens delighted Brawn back on pace

Rubens Barrichello admitted it was pleasing to be back at the sharp end of the grid after his championship-leading Brawn team claimed third and fifth on the grid in Valencia.


Having slipped off the pace at the previous three rounds due to problems getting heat into its tyres, the Brackley-based squad has looked far more competitive since the off at the sweltering Mediterranean venue and enjoyed a stronger qualifying session than title rival Red Bull - although both contenders were beaten to the front row by the resurgent McLarens.


Barrichello, who outqualified team-mate and points leader Jenson Button for the third time in four races, paid tribute to the team’s “fantastic” efforts in trying to resolve its BGP 001’s recent problems both at its factory over the summer break and during Friday practice.


“After the [mandatory factory] shutdowns, it has been a lot of work – the team had a fantastic approach to it and in order to go forward we had to go backwards a little bit and calculate some of the stuff," the Brazilian veteran said.



“Between myself and Jenson we’ve had a fantastic job on Friday to do back-to-backs on set-ups and things and we learned something.”


With the 50C track temperatures meaning Brawn has had no trouble generating tyre temperatures this weekend, Barrichello acknowledges the conditions and stop-start track layout perfectly plays to the BGP 001’s strengths.


The Brazilian is now hopeful he is carrying more fuel than either McLarens having set the pace in the low-fuel Q2, which would give him a chance of ending his five-year victory drought.


“It is hot, as you can see, and the track is good for us,” he said.


“It’s good to be back being competitive.”


“I wish next year’s rules already applied [when cars will run without race fuel in Q3] as I was fastest in Q2, so you never know how much fuel these guys [McLaren] have but I hope I have more than them.”




Brawn is now in a strong position to increase its constructors' championship lead as while Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel split Barrichello and Button with fourth on the grid, his team-mate Mark Webber struggled to ninth.