A tough evening for Brawn GP at the Marina Bay Street Circuit saw Rubens Barrichello qualify in fifth position for tomorrow’s Singapore Grand Prix with team-mate Jenson Button qualifying in twelfth position.
Jenson and Rubens progressed comfortably through Q1 in second and sixth positions respectively before both drivers struggled with the balance of the car on new tyres in Q2. Rubens was able to progress to Q3 with a quick lap at the end of the session however Jenson had not been happy with the balance of his car all day and problems with understeer left him out of the top ten.
In Q3, Rubens was lying in fifth position on his final flying lap when he ran wide on the dust at turn five and hit the wall bringing qualifying to an early conclusion. Rubens will start in tenth position on the grid due to a five-place gearbox change penalty.
RESULTS
Drivers Car No. Chassis No. Free Practice Qualifying 1 Qualifying 2 Qualifying 3
Rubens Barrichello 23 BGP 001-03 P7 P6 01:47.397 P7 01:46.787 P5 01:48.828
Jenson Button 22 BGP 001-02 P14 P2 01:47.180 P12 01:47.141
Weather Hot and humid - Max 79.6% humidity
Temperatures Air: 29-30°C Track: 29-31°C
RUBENS BARRICHELLO
“It was an eventful qualifying session for me today but I’m still feeling positive with starting from tenth position on the grid. Considering everything that happened, I feel that it’s a pretty good result. I had a problem with the car after Q2 when I hit the kerb too hard and probably damaged the floor as the car wasn’t feeling quite right at the end of the session. It was a great lap to get into Q3 as we were struggling for pace and I knew that I had to push regardless of any damage. I was really going for it on my final run in Q3 and unfortunately the car bottomed out and I lost control and ended up bouncing off the wall. It’s a shame but the car should be ok and we can look forward to the race tomorrow.”
JENSON BUTTON
“It was a frustrating qualifying session for us today. The car felt pretty good in Q1 and I was the second quickest which was positive. We had a bit of understeer so we made some changes for Q2 but unfortunately it made the car very difficult under braking and I locked the front left tyre up into turn seven which lost me a lot of time. Then with a flat-spotted front tyre, it’s impossible to make the time up around here so that was my qualifying over. We’ll make the best of it tomorrow of course but starting from twelfth on the grid is going to make it a tough race.”
ROSS BRAWN
“It was a difficult qualifying session for the team in Singapore this evening. Prior to qualifying, we took the decision to change the gearbox in Rubens’ car as this is a heavy duty cycle track for gearboxes and further dyno simulations had shown that keeping the box was too risky. Both drivers progressed comfortably through Q1 then we struggled in Q2 and were not able to get the cars balanced. Rubens put in a good lap at the end to progress with Jenson suffering from understeer throughout the day. We made some significant changes to his car prior to qualifying but were not able to get into the top ten. We expected to be more competitive in Q3 but with Rubens’ accident, it’s clearly not been a great day. We have to tough it out and see what we can recover tomorrow.”
Saturday 26 September 2009
Barrichello admits 2010 plans uncertain
Rubens Barrichello has admitted that his future plans in Formula 1 are totally open, amid mounting speculation that he will be replaced by Nico Rosberg at Brawn GP for 2010.
The Brazilian, who is battling for the world championship with his team-mate Jenson Button, has had no guarantees from his outfit about next year - and Rosberg is believed to be closing in on a deal to partner Button.
Speaking about his future, Barrichello said the situation was quite fluid – as he conceded there was a chance he would not be remaining with his current outfit in 2010.
"I wish to stay in F1," said Barrichello. "If it is with my current team or with another team, I do not know. My future is quite open; I hope that some time soon we can say something.
"I am just happy that there were no rumours about it right now – and I can quietly keep myself working."
Barrichello is currently 14 points behind Button in the championship standings, and is hoping that this weekend marks the end of the title challenge of the Brawn pair's nearest opponent Sebastian Vettel.
When asked if he felt this weekend was Vettel's last chance, Barrichello said: "He is a phenomenal guy and I hope he is going to have his chance in the future, but I do hope it is his last chance here, honestly."
The Brazilian, who is battling for the world championship with his team-mate Jenson Button, has had no guarantees from his outfit about next year - and Rosberg is believed to be closing in on a deal to partner Button.
Speaking about his future, Barrichello said the situation was quite fluid – as he conceded there was a chance he would not be remaining with his current outfit in 2010.
"I wish to stay in F1," said Barrichello. "If it is with my current team or with another team, I do not know. My future is quite open; I hope that some time soon we can say something.
"I am just happy that there were no rumours about it right now – and I can quietly keep myself working."
Barrichello is currently 14 points behind Button in the championship standings, and is hoping that this weekend marks the end of the title challenge of the Brawn pair's nearest opponent Sebastian Vettel.
When asked if he felt this weekend was Vettel's last chance, Barrichello said: "He is a phenomenal guy and I hope he is going to have his chance in the future, but I do hope it is his last chance here, honestly."
Thursday 24 September 2009
Singapore Grand Prix - Brawn Preview
Round 14 of the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship takes Brawn GP to the Far East for this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix, the first of two back-to-back races with the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka following just one week later.
Formula One’s first night race in Singapore last year was a resounding success with the floodlights lighting up the track and the city skyline to provide a spectacular and atmospheric race weekend. The 20:00 race start time will see the track and pit lane once again lit with 1500 light projectors situated four metres apart and 10 metres above the ground.
The 5.067km Marina Bay Street Circuit is made up entirely of public roads with an anti-clockwise layout and an abundance of first and second gear bends included in the 23 corners of the lap. The stop-start nature of the track results in a low average lap speed of just 175kph and sees the cars running with maximum levels of aerodynamic downforce.
Brawn GP’s cars will be running with additional Canon branding this weekend as part of the team’s partnership with Canon Singapore.
ROSS BRAWN, TEAM PRINCIPAL
Q. What are your thoughts ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix?
“Formula One’s first night race in Singapore last year was a fantastic occasion which was greatly enjoyed by the drivers, teams and fans. The spectacle of running on a barrier-lined street circuit under the floodlights really caught the imagination and provided a weekend that Formula One and the Singapore Grand Prix organisers should be very proud of. It’s a venue which everyone at Brawn GP is looking forward to returning to this week. The team and our drivers performed extremely well in Monza to achieve a one-two finish at the last race and we will be hoping to carry that momentum through to Singapore. We have a significant aerodynamic upgrade for the BGP 001 for this weekend which should bring another good step in performance for the final races of the season. The nature of the Marina Bay Street Circuit is tight, twisty and very narrow in places with many first and second gear corners resulting in low average speeds so we will be running the car in a high aerodynamic downforce configuration.”
JENSON BUTTON
Q. What did you think of your first experience of the Singapore Grand Prix last year?
“Last year’s Singapore Grand Prix was an amazing experience and it really was one of the highlights of the year. Driving under the lights was great fun and the visibility was pretty good although some corners such as turns one and five were a bit dark which made it more difficult to judge your braking distances. The Marina Bay Street Circuit is pretty challenging and although it has a stop-start layout which isn’t usually my favourite type of circuit, I still enjoyed driving it. As last year, we will stay on European timing for the race weekend which means staying awake throughout the night and sleeping most of the day to ensure that we are alert and the body is ready to react in the right way for the evening timetable. I spent some time at the factory last week driving the circuit on our simulator which helps with the track layout, gears and downforce levels so we are well prepared and looking forward to arriving in Singapore and getting the weekend underway.”
RUBENS BARRICHELLO
Q. Are you looking forward to returning to Singapore?
“The first Formula One night race in Singapore was very exciting last year and I’m really looking forward to returning this week. It’s always good to have new challenges and racing under the lights for the first time certainly provided that. I really enjoyed the circuit as it felt like a proper street circuit should with public roads, bumps, barriers and passing some of the famous city landmarks. It’s very narrow in places and you can feel quite enclosed particularly with the bright floodlights shining down. It’s a very slow track so you need a high downforce aerodynamic configuration on the car and with so many corners, you have to maintain your concentration at all times. I’ve had a great time over the last month with two victories so we’ve got some good momentum behind us going into the final four races of the season. I can’t wait to get back in the car and get on with the challenge.”
Marina Bay Street Circuit Stats
Circuit Length: 5.067km
Race Distance: 308.950km
Number of Laps: 61
Full Throttle: 48%
Brake Wear: High
Tyre Compounds: Super Soft / Soft
Downforce Level: High - 10/10
Tyre Usage: Medium
Average Speed: 175kph (108mph)
Race Weekend Schedule (all times are local)
Friday 25 September
Practice 1: 1800 - 1930
Practice 2: 2130 - 1100
Saturday 26 September
Practice 3: 1900 - 2000
Qualifying: 2200 - 2300
Sunday 27 September
Formula One’s first night race in Singapore last year was a resounding success with the floodlights lighting up the track and the city skyline to provide a spectacular and atmospheric race weekend. The 20:00 race start time will see the track and pit lane once again lit with 1500 light projectors situated four metres apart and 10 metres above the ground.
The 5.067km Marina Bay Street Circuit is made up entirely of public roads with an anti-clockwise layout and an abundance of first and second gear bends included in the 23 corners of the lap. The stop-start nature of the track results in a low average lap speed of just 175kph and sees the cars running with maximum levels of aerodynamic downforce.
Brawn GP’s cars will be running with additional Canon branding this weekend as part of the team’s partnership with Canon Singapore.
ROSS BRAWN, TEAM PRINCIPAL
Q. What are your thoughts ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix?
“Formula One’s first night race in Singapore last year was a fantastic occasion which was greatly enjoyed by the drivers, teams and fans. The spectacle of running on a barrier-lined street circuit under the floodlights really caught the imagination and provided a weekend that Formula One and the Singapore Grand Prix organisers should be very proud of. It’s a venue which everyone at Brawn GP is looking forward to returning to this week. The team and our drivers performed extremely well in Monza to achieve a one-two finish at the last race and we will be hoping to carry that momentum through to Singapore. We have a significant aerodynamic upgrade for the BGP 001 for this weekend which should bring another good step in performance for the final races of the season. The nature of the Marina Bay Street Circuit is tight, twisty and very narrow in places with many first and second gear corners resulting in low average speeds so we will be running the car in a high aerodynamic downforce configuration.”
JENSON BUTTON
Q. What did you think of your first experience of the Singapore Grand Prix last year?
“Last year’s Singapore Grand Prix was an amazing experience and it really was one of the highlights of the year. Driving under the lights was great fun and the visibility was pretty good although some corners such as turns one and five were a bit dark which made it more difficult to judge your braking distances. The Marina Bay Street Circuit is pretty challenging and although it has a stop-start layout which isn’t usually my favourite type of circuit, I still enjoyed driving it. As last year, we will stay on European timing for the race weekend which means staying awake throughout the night and sleeping most of the day to ensure that we are alert and the body is ready to react in the right way for the evening timetable. I spent some time at the factory last week driving the circuit on our simulator which helps with the track layout, gears and downforce levels so we are well prepared and looking forward to arriving in Singapore and getting the weekend underway.”
RUBENS BARRICHELLO
Q. Are you looking forward to returning to Singapore?
“The first Formula One night race in Singapore was very exciting last year and I’m really looking forward to returning this week. It’s always good to have new challenges and racing under the lights for the first time certainly provided that. I really enjoyed the circuit as it felt like a proper street circuit should with public roads, bumps, barriers and passing some of the famous city landmarks. It’s very narrow in places and you can feel quite enclosed particularly with the bright floodlights shining down. It’s a very slow track so you need a high downforce aerodynamic configuration on the car and with so many corners, you have to maintain your concentration at all times. I’ve had a great time over the last month with two victories so we’ve got some good momentum behind us going into the final four races of the season. I can’t wait to get back in the car and get on with the challenge.”
Marina Bay Street Circuit Stats
Circuit Length: 5.067km
Race Distance: 308.950km
Number of Laps: 61
Full Throttle: 48%
Brake Wear: High
Tyre Compounds: Super Soft / Soft
Downforce Level: High - 10/10
Tyre Usage: Medium
Average Speed: 175kph (108mph)
Race Weekend Schedule (all times are local)
Friday 25 September
Practice 1: 1800 - 1930
Practice 2: 2130 - 1100
Saturday 26 September
Practice 3: 1900 - 2000
Qualifying: 2200 - 2300
Sunday 27 September
Monday 14 September 2009
2009 ITALIAN GRAND PRIX - RACE
Brawn GP’s Rubens Barrichello won the Italian Grand Prix in Monza this afternoon to score his second victory of the season and his eleventh Formula One win. Team-mate Jenson Button came home in second position in his Brawn-Mercedes car to complete a fantastic weekend which sees the team’s eighth victory and fourth one-two finish of the 2009 season.
After a strong qualifying performance on Saturday, Rubens and Jenson began the race from fifth and sixth positions respectively with heavy fuel loads for a one-stop strategy. Rubens started on the harder prime tyre with Jenson favouring the softer option. Both drivers had excellent first laps to pass Heikki Kovalainen and get into position behind the two-stopping cars ahead of them.
With aggressive lap times, the pair were able to maintain the gap to the front-runners prior to their pit stops, on lap 28 for Jenson and lap 29 for Rubens, before jumping the three two-stopping cars at their second stops. Rubens crossed the line after 53 laps to take the flag just over 2.8 seconds ahead of Jenson.
Brawn GP leads the Constructors’ Championship with 146 points, 40.5 points ahead of second place, with Jenson leading the Drivers’ Championship with 80 points and Rubens in second place with 66 points.
RESULTS
Drivers Car No. Chassis No. Race Result / Fastest Lap
Rubens Barrichello 23 BGP 001-03 P1 01:24.967
Jenson Button 22 BGP 001-02 P2 01:24.935
Weather Hot and sunny
Temperatures Air: 26-28°C Track: 37-41°C
RUBENS BARRICHELLO
“Monza has always been a great track for me and it feels just wonderful to win here again. We made some great decisions this weekend and the work that we achieved on Friday was the key to setting up the result today. We had to think strategically in qualifying because of the KERS cars and our one-stop strategy really paid off. I had a great start to get ahead of Heikki and from there I had the pace that we needed to beat the two-stopping cars who started ahead of us. I want to say a huge thank you to everyone at the factory, here at the track and at Mercedes-Benz High Performance Engines in Brixworth for designing, building and developing such a great car and engine. I’m driving a fantastic car with a fantastic Mercedes-Benz engine and the team is doing a fantastic job! It’s going to be a good and healthy fight for the championship over the next few races and I’m really looking forward to that. Two wins in three races is pretty good going and I’ll be giving it my all. And finally I would like to dedicate this win to my two sons Eduardo and Fernando who both had their birthdays this month.”
JENSON BUTTON
“I had a really good race today and it’s a fantastic feeling to be up on the podium again. The team and Rubens did a great job this weekend and congratulations to Rubens for his second win of the season. The car worked very well all weekend and the balance was good throughout the race which meant I could set consistently quick lap times when it really mattered. The strategy that we chose on Saturday for qualifying was the perfect one for us and I was able to get ahead of Heikki on the first lap which was absolutely crucial for my race. Lewis was pushing hard behind me for the final part of the race but I was confident that I had him covered and it’s a very difficult circuit to overtake here even with KERS. We have shown that the Brawn-Mercedes is a very good car and credit to the team for the efforts that have gone into improving it over the past couple of months. It’s going to be a very exciting end of the season and a challenge that we are all looking forward to.”
ROSS BRAWN
“We are all delighted with our result this weekend after two very strong drives from Rubens and Jenson to achieve our fourth one-two finish of the season. We have a lot of very talented people at the team who have made this result possible and I am very pleased with how our race weekend here in Monza was planned and operated. The car worked well in low-downforce and the Mercedes-Benz engine gave us the power required for this high-speed circuit. This weekend has been a great result for Brawn GP but the hard work is far from over. There are four crucial races coming up which will decide the championship battle and we will be back at the factory in Brackley tomorrow and looking ahead to the next challenge in Singapore.”
After a strong qualifying performance on Saturday, Rubens and Jenson began the race from fifth and sixth positions respectively with heavy fuel loads for a one-stop strategy. Rubens started on the harder prime tyre with Jenson favouring the softer option. Both drivers had excellent first laps to pass Heikki Kovalainen and get into position behind the two-stopping cars ahead of them.
With aggressive lap times, the pair were able to maintain the gap to the front-runners prior to their pit stops, on lap 28 for Jenson and lap 29 for Rubens, before jumping the three two-stopping cars at their second stops. Rubens crossed the line after 53 laps to take the flag just over 2.8 seconds ahead of Jenson.
Brawn GP leads the Constructors’ Championship with 146 points, 40.5 points ahead of second place, with Jenson leading the Drivers’ Championship with 80 points and Rubens in second place with 66 points.
RESULTS
Drivers Car No. Chassis No. Race Result / Fastest Lap
Rubens Barrichello 23 BGP 001-03 P1 01:24.967
Jenson Button 22 BGP 001-02 P2 01:24.935
Weather Hot and sunny
Temperatures Air: 26-28°C Track: 37-41°C
RUBENS BARRICHELLO
“Monza has always been a great track for me and it feels just wonderful to win here again. We made some great decisions this weekend and the work that we achieved on Friday was the key to setting up the result today. We had to think strategically in qualifying because of the KERS cars and our one-stop strategy really paid off. I had a great start to get ahead of Heikki and from there I had the pace that we needed to beat the two-stopping cars who started ahead of us. I want to say a huge thank you to everyone at the factory, here at the track and at Mercedes-Benz High Performance Engines in Brixworth for designing, building and developing such a great car and engine. I’m driving a fantastic car with a fantastic Mercedes-Benz engine and the team is doing a fantastic job! It’s going to be a good and healthy fight for the championship over the next few races and I’m really looking forward to that. Two wins in three races is pretty good going and I’ll be giving it my all. And finally I would like to dedicate this win to my two sons Eduardo and Fernando who both had their birthdays this month.”
JENSON BUTTON
“I had a really good race today and it’s a fantastic feeling to be up on the podium again. The team and Rubens did a great job this weekend and congratulations to Rubens for his second win of the season. The car worked very well all weekend and the balance was good throughout the race which meant I could set consistently quick lap times when it really mattered. The strategy that we chose on Saturday for qualifying was the perfect one for us and I was able to get ahead of Heikki on the first lap which was absolutely crucial for my race. Lewis was pushing hard behind me for the final part of the race but I was confident that I had him covered and it’s a very difficult circuit to overtake here even with KERS. We have shown that the Brawn-Mercedes is a very good car and credit to the team for the efforts that have gone into improving it over the past couple of months. It’s going to be a very exciting end of the season and a challenge that we are all looking forward to.”
ROSS BRAWN
“We are all delighted with our result this weekend after two very strong drives from Rubens and Jenson to achieve our fourth one-two finish of the season. We have a lot of very talented people at the team who have made this result possible and I am very pleased with how our race weekend here in Monza was planned and operated. The car worked well in low-downforce and the Mercedes-Benz engine gave us the power required for this high-speed circuit. This weekend has been a great result for Brawn GP but the hard work is far from over. There are four crucial races coming up which will decide the championship battle and we will be back at the factory in Brackley tomorrow and looking ahead to the next challenge in Singapore.”
Thursday 10 September 2009
2009 ITALIAN GRAND PRIX - PREVIEW
The Italian Grand Prix, Round 13 of the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship, will be held this weekend at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza just outside of Milan and bring Formula One’s European season to its conclusion.
One of the most historic and atmospheric circuits on the Formula One calendar, the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza is situated in the royal park at the heart of the town of Monza. The original circuit was built in 1922 and included a banked oval course. Although this has not been used by F1 cars since 1961, it remains as a monument to the iconic races hosted over the years.
The 5.793km Monza circuit is the fastest of the year with four long straights enabling the cars to reach top speeds of 340kph and average lap speeds of 250kph. The emphasis is on engine power and aerodynamic efficiency which require the cars to be set up with a special low downforce aerodynamic package to minimise drag.
ROSS BRAWN, TEAM PRINCIPAL
Q. What are the technical considerations for the race at Monza this weekend?
“Visiting Monza during the Italian Grand Prix is a very special experience and one not to be missed for motorsport fans. It’s one of those classic venues where the grandstands are always packed and the atmosphere is electric throughout the weekend. From a technical point of view, Monza should be a track where our car will work well although we do expect the KERS cars to have a significant advantage. The BGP 001 is good on both brakes and traction which are important at Monza and we have the benefit of the Mercedes-Benz engine on this power-sensitive circuit. With no in-season testing this year, we have not had the opportunity to test at the circuit prior to the race weekend so it will be interesting to see how quickly everyone can adapt to the unusually low downforce configuration with limited running. The aerodynamic efficiency of the car is crucial so we have a specific package designed to minimise drag levels and achieve the high top speeds required. Good engineering can make a significant difference at Monza so we’ll be working hard to get the car set up well to allow our drivers to be aggressive over the kerbs.”
JENSON BUTTON
Q. What are your thoughts ahead of the Italian Grand Prix?
“Monza is a fantastic track and I love the passion that the Italian fans bring to the race weekend. The circuit is very different to most of the circuits that we race on as the car will be set up with the lowest levels of drag and downforce possible to take advantage of the long straights. It always takes a few laps to get used to and as we haven’t tested at Monza this season, the practice sessions will be very important. Ascari is probably my favourite part of the track but also Parabolica where the challenge is to brake as late as possible, particularly in qualifying when you’re on a quick lap. It’s a circuit that should be reasonably good for our car if we get the handling right over the kerbs so we’re feeling positive and excited about the challenge.”
RUBENS BARRICHELLO
Q. What do you enjoy about visiting Monza?
“There’s something very special about Monza and I have always loved racing there throughout my career. The setting in the park, the sound of the Tifosi, the speed of the circuit and the memories from my victories with Ferrari in 2002 and 2004 all make Monza one of the most exciting races of the year. It’s the quickest circuit on the calendar and our car has the potential to be strong there. The power of our Mercedes-Benz engine will be really important in maximising speed on the long straights and our car is quite good under braking which you need to be aggressive and ride the kerbs effectively. It’s been a season full of surprises so it’s impossible to predict what the weekend will bring but I hope that we can have a good one.”
Autodromo Nazionale di Monza Stats
Circuit Length: 5.793km
Race Distance: 306.720km
Number of Laps: 53
Full Throttle: 67%
Brake Wear: Medium
Tyre Compounds: Soft / Medium
Downforce Level: Low - 2/10
Tyre Usage: Low
Average Speed: 245kph (155mph)
Race Weekend Schedule (all times are local)
Friday 11 September
Practice 1: 1000 - 1130
Practice 2: 1400 - 1530
Saturday 12 September
Practice 3: 1100 - 1200
Qualifying: 1400 - 1500
Sunday 13 September
One of the most historic and atmospheric circuits on the Formula One calendar, the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza is situated in the royal park at the heart of the town of Monza. The original circuit was built in 1922 and included a banked oval course. Although this has not been used by F1 cars since 1961, it remains as a monument to the iconic races hosted over the years.
The 5.793km Monza circuit is the fastest of the year with four long straights enabling the cars to reach top speeds of 340kph and average lap speeds of 250kph. The emphasis is on engine power and aerodynamic efficiency which require the cars to be set up with a special low downforce aerodynamic package to minimise drag.
ROSS BRAWN, TEAM PRINCIPAL
Q. What are the technical considerations for the race at Monza this weekend?
“Visiting Monza during the Italian Grand Prix is a very special experience and one not to be missed for motorsport fans. It’s one of those classic venues where the grandstands are always packed and the atmosphere is electric throughout the weekend. From a technical point of view, Monza should be a track where our car will work well although we do expect the KERS cars to have a significant advantage. The BGP 001 is good on both brakes and traction which are important at Monza and we have the benefit of the Mercedes-Benz engine on this power-sensitive circuit. With no in-season testing this year, we have not had the opportunity to test at the circuit prior to the race weekend so it will be interesting to see how quickly everyone can adapt to the unusually low downforce configuration with limited running. The aerodynamic efficiency of the car is crucial so we have a specific package designed to minimise drag levels and achieve the high top speeds required. Good engineering can make a significant difference at Monza so we’ll be working hard to get the car set up well to allow our drivers to be aggressive over the kerbs.”
JENSON BUTTON
Q. What are your thoughts ahead of the Italian Grand Prix?
“Monza is a fantastic track and I love the passion that the Italian fans bring to the race weekend. The circuit is very different to most of the circuits that we race on as the car will be set up with the lowest levels of drag and downforce possible to take advantage of the long straights. It always takes a few laps to get used to and as we haven’t tested at Monza this season, the practice sessions will be very important. Ascari is probably my favourite part of the track but also Parabolica where the challenge is to brake as late as possible, particularly in qualifying when you’re on a quick lap. It’s a circuit that should be reasonably good for our car if we get the handling right over the kerbs so we’re feeling positive and excited about the challenge.”
RUBENS BARRICHELLO
Q. What do you enjoy about visiting Monza?
“There’s something very special about Monza and I have always loved racing there throughout my career. The setting in the park, the sound of the Tifosi, the speed of the circuit and the memories from my victories with Ferrari in 2002 and 2004 all make Monza one of the most exciting races of the year. It’s the quickest circuit on the calendar and our car has the potential to be strong there. The power of our Mercedes-Benz engine will be really important in maximising speed on the long straights and our car is quite good under braking which you need to be aggressive and ride the kerbs effectively. It’s been a season full of surprises so it’s impossible to predict what the weekend will bring but I hope that we can have a good one.”
Autodromo Nazionale di Monza Stats
Circuit Length: 5.793km
Race Distance: 306.720km
Number of Laps: 53
Full Throttle: 67%
Brake Wear: Medium
Tyre Compounds: Soft / Medium
Downforce Level: Low - 2/10
Tyre Usage: Low
Average Speed: 245kph (155mph)
Race Weekend Schedule (all times are local)
Friday 11 September
Practice 1: 1000 - 1130
Practice 2: 1400 - 1530
Saturday 12 September
Practice 3: 1100 - 1200
Qualifying: 1400 - 1500
Sunday 13 September
Monday 7 September 2009
Saturday 5 September 2009
Barrichello's engine fine after fire
Rubens Barrichello's Belgian Grand Prix engine has been given the all-clear to be used again, despite the oil leak and fire that nearly put him out of the race.
The Brawn GP driver had to slow in the final laps at Spa after oil smoke was seen coming from the back of his car.
His team initially feared that the Mercedes-Benz power unit was about to fail, but the problem was put down to a simple oil leak.
However, after the chequered flag, the oil leak manifested itself into a spectacular fire as he came into the pits.
That blaze was cause for concern for the team, but post-race analysis has shown the engine was undamaged - although the team will have to wait until next week's Italian Grand Prix to find out if Barrichello's gearbox escaped unscathed too.
Writing on his Twitter page on Friday, Barrichello confirmed: "The team told me that my engine is fine after the fire. The gearbox seems okay but only after Saturday practice we will know more."
The Brawn GP driver had to slow in the final laps at Spa after oil smoke was seen coming from the back of his car.
His team initially feared that the Mercedes-Benz power unit was about to fail, but the problem was put down to a simple oil leak.
However, after the chequered flag, the oil leak manifested itself into a spectacular fire as he came into the pits.
That blaze was cause for concern for the team, but post-race analysis has shown the engine was undamaged - although the team will have to wait until next week's Italian Grand Prix to find out if Barrichello's gearbox escaped unscathed too.
Writing on his Twitter page on Friday, Barrichello confirmed: "The team told me that my engine is fine after the fire. The gearbox seems okay but only after Saturday practice we will know more."
Brawn escapes driving ban for speeding
Ross Brawn has escaped a driving ban for speeding at more than 100mph on a dual-carriageway in May.
The Brawn GP boss admitted to driving more than 30mph over the 70mph limit in his Mercedes on the A30 at Sourton, near Okehampton in Devon, the 54-year-old saying he was late for an appointment after being held up by traffic.
Brawn did not appear at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court on Friday and was represented by his lawyer Denis Brennan.
Mr Brennan told the court that Brawn acknowledged he risked a driving ban and that his client accepted guilt for the offence.
''He does accept that on the issue of culpability he drove intentionally at speed,” Brawn's lawyer was quoted as saying by The Daily Telegraph newspaper.
“He is aware that he can expect to be disqualified.
“The traffic was light. He fully co-operated with the police. He apologises.''
Magistrates fined Brawn £700, with £75 costs, and had six points put on his licence.
The Brawn GP boss admitted to driving more than 30mph over the 70mph limit in his Mercedes on the A30 at Sourton, near Okehampton in Devon, the 54-year-old saying he was late for an appointment after being held up by traffic.
Brawn did not appear at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court on Friday and was represented by his lawyer Denis Brennan.
Mr Brennan told the court that Brawn acknowledged he risked a driving ban and that his client accepted guilt for the offence.
''He does accept that on the issue of culpability he drove intentionally at speed,” Brawn's lawyer was quoted as saying by The Daily Telegraph newspaper.
“He is aware that he can expect to be disqualified.
“The traffic was light. He fully co-operated with the police. He apologises.''
Magistrates fined Brawn £700, with £75 costs, and had six points put on his licence.
Tuesday 1 September 2009
2009 BELGIAN GRAND PRIX - RACE
An eventful Belgian Grand Prix for Brawn GP saw Rubens Barrichello finish in seventh position at the end of the 44-lap race to score two points for the team’s championship challenge, with team-mate Jenson Button retiring from the race on the first lap.
Rubens had a slow getaway from fourth place on the grid due to a clutch problem which dropped him back into the field. The team therefore took advantage of the safety car on the first lap to bring Rubens into the pits and change his strategy. He then drove a determined race to charge through the field and be challenging Heikki Kovalainen for sixth position before an oil leak just two laps from the end put paid to his battle, requiring Rubens to back off and manage the pace to guide the car home.
Jenson had a good start progressing up to 11th position before the rear wheel of his car was struck from behind by Romain Grosjean at turn five on the first lap, an incident which took out four cars and brought out the safety car, ending Jenson’s race.
JENSON BUTTON
“I had a really good start and had made up a few places in the first few corners to be ahead of Lewis and Rubens. I had a good run going down the straight to turn five just after Eau Rouge. I was on the outside of Heikki and turned in for the corner but quite simply Romain outbraked himself and hit my back wheel. That was it for my race today. It’s frustrating as I was in a reasonable position having made up some places and with a lot of fuel on board but it’s better to have my first retirement here where I haven’t been so competitive than when I’m running at the front. We’re determined get back on the track at the next race and be more competitive there at a track which should be quite good for our car.”
RUBENS BARRICHELLO
“I have to be happy with seventh place and the two points really after such an eventful race. We should have had far more from today but the problem with the clutch at the start took away any chance of a podium which is frustrating for me and the team. We changed my strategy at the end of the first lap to fuel longer for the first stint which was a good move and gave me the chance to get into the points. I had fun in the race from then on and the move on Mark Webber at the Blanchimont bend was definitely one of the highlights. The oil leak gave us some worrying laps but I was able to manage the pace and bring the car safely home which was a big relief.”
ROSS BRAWN
“It was a very disappointing race for us today when there was potential for more. Rubens’ car went into anti-stall at the start which left him stranded on the grid which was very frustrating for the whole team. It was a technical problem on the car and we have to get on top of that quickly as it has caught us out too many times this season. When the safety car came out, we took advantage to switch Rubens onto what was effectively a one-stop strategy and he drove extremely well from there. His car had an oil leak with two laps to go therefore we asked him to back off from chasing Heikki Kovalainen and manage the car to the end of the race. Jenson had a really good start from 14th and gained a few places before he was hit from behind at turn five which ended his race. There are important lessons which we can take from this weekend and some hard work to be done back at the factory before the final five races of the season.”
Rubens had a slow getaway from fourth place on the grid due to a clutch problem which dropped him back into the field. The team therefore took advantage of the safety car on the first lap to bring Rubens into the pits and change his strategy. He then drove a determined race to charge through the field and be challenging Heikki Kovalainen for sixth position before an oil leak just two laps from the end put paid to his battle, requiring Rubens to back off and manage the pace to guide the car home.
Jenson had a good start progressing up to 11th position before the rear wheel of his car was struck from behind by Romain Grosjean at turn five on the first lap, an incident which took out four cars and brought out the safety car, ending Jenson’s race.
JENSON BUTTON
“I had a really good start and had made up a few places in the first few corners to be ahead of Lewis and Rubens. I had a good run going down the straight to turn five just after Eau Rouge. I was on the outside of Heikki and turned in for the corner but quite simply Romain outbraked himself and hit my back wheel. That was it for my race today. It’s frustrating as I was in a reasonable position having made up some places and with a lot of fuel on board but it’s better to have my first retirement here where I haven’t been so competitive than when I’m running at the front. We’re determined get back on the track at the next race and be more competitive there at a track which should be quite good for our car.”
RUBENS BARRICHELLO
“I have to be happy with seventh place and the two points really after such an eventful race. We should have had far more from today but the problem with the clutch at the start took away any chance of a podium which is frustrating for me and the team. We changed my strategy at the end of the first lap to fuel longer for the first stint which was a good move and gave me the chance to get into the points. I had fun in the race from then on and the move on Mark Webber at the Blanchimont bend was definitely one of the highlights. The oil leak gave us some worrying laps but I was able to manage the pace and bring the car safely home which was a big relief.”
ROSS BRAWN
“It was a very disappointing race for us today when there was potential for more. Rubens’ car went into anti-stall at the start which left him stranded on the grid which was very frustrating for the whole team. It was a technical problem on the car and we have to get on top of that quickly as it has caught us out too many times this season. When the safety car came out, we took advantage to switch Rubens onto what was effectively a one-stop strategy and he drove extremely well from there. His car had an oil leak with two laps to go therefore we asked him to back off from chasing Heikki Kovalainen and manage the car to the end of the race. Jenson had a really good start from 14th and gained a few places before he was hit from behind at turn five which ended his race. There are important lessons which we can take from this weekend and some hard work to be done back at the factory before the final five races of the season.”
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