2009 Malaysian Grand Prix Review
Jenson Button Wins Shortened Formula 1 Race
McLaren arrived in Malaysia under intense media scrutiny, following the team's admission that they had lied to race stewards in Australia about Lewis Hamilton allowing Jarno Trulli past under safety car conditions. The result was McLaren's team manager Dave Ryan being suspended and Hamilton having to issue an apology during a press conference. Meanwhile, Brawn GP arrived on a high after winning their maiden Grand Prix.
Malaysian GP Qualifying
Brawn GP's Jenson Button claimed pole position, just as he had at the opening Grand Prix of the 2009 Formula 1 season in Australia. Toyota's Trulli pushed him hard, while Sebastien Vettel confirmed the pace of the Red Bull car by recording the third fastest time, before a 10 place penalty dropped him down the grid. Rubens Barrichello had a five place penalty to take and started from eighth.
There was a major shock in Q1 when Ferrari driver Felipe Massa was eliminated. His team assumed he had recorded a fast enough time to make it through to Q2, only for several cars to record quicker times. Kimi Raikkonen ended the day as the best placed Ferrari driver, in seventh.
McLaren continued to struggle for pace, with Hamilton a lowly 12th on the grid and his team-mate Heikki Kovalainen two places further back. Nico Rosberg was again quick in the Williams, lining up fourth. Mark Webber started from fifth in his Red Bull, ahead of Robert Kubica's BMW Sauber.
2009 Malaysian Grand Prix
Rosberg made a lightning start to lead into turn one, while Trulli and Alonso also made it past Button's slow starting Brawn. It took less than a lap for Button to find a way past Alonso's Renault, while Kovalainen didn't even last a lap before going out of the race. The Finn was quickly joined in retirement by Kubica.
At the front Rosberg led comfortably from Trulli and Button, with Barrichello making it through to fourth wile Alonso held up several cars in his Renault. Raikkonen and Webber eventually passed the Spaniard and quickly pulled away.
Button was the last of the top three to pit and emerged in the lead, from Rosberg and Trulli. Ferrari gambled and fitted Raikkonen's car with wets, but the Finn lost a huge amount of time on a dry track. When the rain did arrive a few laps later the leaders all pitted immediately for wets. Barrichello demonstrated his wet weather prowess by disposing of Trulli and Rosberg, moving up to second.
Timo Glock opted for intermediates and they proved to be the ideal choice, as he lapped several seconds a lap quicker than anyone else. Eventually his rivals followed suit, leaving Glock in the lead of the Grand Prix. Button was quickly past, while Glock dived into the pits for wets. Button pitted for wets on the next lap and emerged still in the lead, before the safety car was deployed due to a torrential downpour.
Due to the severity of the conditions the race director was left with no choice but to red flag the race, with half points being awarded. Button was declared the winner, with Heidfeld an impressive second for BMW Sauber and Glock third. Trulli finished fourth in the other Toyota, ahead of Barrichello in fifth, Webber sixth, Hamilton seventh and Rosberg eighth.
The result saw Button extend his lead at the top of the World Championship. It was a particularly impressive performance from Brawn GP, considering that the cars had never run in wet conditions. Toyota have clearly closed the gap to Brawn GP, but the new team will head to the next race in China full of confidence.
Jenson Button won 2009 Malaysian GP
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