Button wins for Brawn GP in Malaysia

Jenson Button triumphs for Brawn GP in Malaysia in the pouring rain.

After last weeks fairy-tale start to racing for Brawn GP at Melbourne, it was hard to believe that, despite seemingly being the best car on the grid,  Jenson Button could repeat his performance in Malaysia. But he has, and Brawn become the first team to get two wins on the trot in their first season since Alfa Romeo in 1950.

But the race wasn’t a full race, it was a boat race. Rain was forecast from the start, but didn’t happen until lap 22. A series of ins and outs by drivers to change tyres (every single combination of tyres!) came to an abrupt end on lap 32 when the track became a torrent of water, and race director Charlie Whiting decided to red flag the race.

The teams queued up on the grid for almost 50 minutes in the hope of a re-start, or even a parade behind the safety car to reach the 75% distance required for the race to count as a full Grand Prix, but conditions were just too bad.

The decision to push the start back to late afternoon to suit European TV audiences must be called in to question. Malaysian rain is notorious, and notorious for falling in the late afternoon, so this seems like a step too far just to push up Euro TV ratings.

But Brawn GP, and Jenson Button, did a sterling job to bring the car in at the front, and thoroughly deserved the win (and the 5 points – half the norm as the race was cut short). Heidfeld managed a very good second, after managing to call his tyres well and only making one stop, and Glock managed third for only his second ever podium.

Looks like Brawn GP isn’t going to be a flash in the pan. Let’s hope there are no silly decisions on the rear diffuser issue this week, and that the boys from Brackley can stay on the up.

Of course, we are in no way biased towards the Brawn GP team, just because they are British and managed to rise Phoenix like from the ashes of Honda. Perish the thought!!