2009 MALAYSIAN GRAND PRIX // POST RACE REVIEW

Jenson Button and the newly developed Brawn GP team have claimed their second victory in as many races, as the Malaysian Grand Prix was called early due to excessive rainfall. Having taken the pole during qualifying, a surprise came when Button lost the lead, as the AT&T Williams of Nico Rosberg sprung from the starting grid, and proceeded to pull away steadily.

Also a surprise, was the Renault of Fernando Alonso, who, despite a massive fuel load, managed a brilliant start from ninth, pulling into the third position just behind the Toyota of JarnoTrulli. But Button wasted no time and quickly took third from Alonso at turn 13. A flurry of position changes followed, all the while dark storm clouds loomed on the horizon... [read more]

All of the cars started the race on slick tires. With rain forecasted for twenty minutes into the race, most of the teams had enough fuel and tire life to keep the cars on track until the rain arrived. However, like any wet weather race, each team had to decided just when to switch from slicks to intermediates (or full rain tires in this case).

One of the first cars to change tires was the Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen. This proved a vital mistake, as Kimi was forced to run on full rain tires for four full laps before the rain fell. Timo Glock on the other hand, stayed on track while everyone else pitted on lap 22. Picking off his rivals as they nursed their rain tires, Glock managed to pull himself into second just behind Button, and would maintain this position until the race stewards called the race due to heavy rainfall.

With rain falling heavily on the track, any drivers who had not already pitted, scurried to change their tires. Some, like the RedBull of Sebastian Vettel, were unable to make it, spinning off into retirement.

After only a few laps, the combination of water on track and the continued rainfall forced the safety car on track at lap 32. With the race red-flagged, drivers were asked to line up on the starting grid and await a decision from track officials as to whether the race would go on. But with no signs of the rain letting up and only a few hours of sunlight remaining, officials called the race, a decision that would allow for only half-points, as less than 75% of the race was completed.

The officials decision worked in the favor of the new Brawn GP team, as Jeson Button, who had managed to maintain his lead through a handful of tire changes and pit stops, would be deemed the race winner. In second place was the Toyota of Timo Glock, followed by the BMW of Nick Heidfeld in third. Complete results are as follows:

COMPLETE RESULTS // 2009 MALAYSIAN GRAND PRIX
1: Jenson Button (Brawn-Mercedes) 55:30.622
2: Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber) +22.7 secs
3: Timo Glock (Toyota) +23.5 secs
4: Jarno Trulli (Toyota) +46.1 secs
5: Rubens Barrichello (Brawn-Mercedes) +47.3 secs
6: Mark Webber (RBR-Renault) +52.3 secs
7: Lewis Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes) +60.7 secs
8: Nico Rosberg (Williams-Toyota) +71.5 secs
9: Felipe Massa (Ferrari) +76.9 secs
10: Sebastien Bourdais (STR-Ferrari) +102.164 secs
11: Fernando Alonso (Renault) +109.422 secs
12: Kazuki Nakajima (Williams-Toyota) +116.130 secs
13: Nelsinho Piquet (Renault) +116.713 secs
14: Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) +142.841 secs
15: Sebastian Vettel (RBR-Renault) Spin - lap 13
16: Sebastien Buemi (STR-Ferrari) Spin - lap 20
17: Adrian Sutil (Force India-Mercedes) +1 Lap
18: Giancarlo Fisichella (Force India-Mercedes) Spin - lap 18
Ret: Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber) Engine - lap 6
Ret: Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren-Mercedes) Spin - lap 14