Was it a trick of the eye or was that really John Travolta exuberantly waving the chequered flag at the finish of the Melbourne Grand Prix?
The Hollywood high roller was a surprise sight in Australia, as was seeing Jenson Button being the recipient of Travolta’s flag. It wasn’t “Saturday Night Fever” for the champion though, more Sunday afternoon joy as he clinched victory in a thrilling race.
In recent weeks Formula One has been labelled boring and repetitive in most quarters, however the Australian Grand Prix was as action packed as could be.
There was pandemonium from the off, the drying conditions left a residue of water on the surface that was to play a crucial part in the outcome. As the cars piled into the first corner Sebastian Vettel raced clear leaving a chaotic trail in his wake. Fernando Alonso rolled out at snail’s pace allowing teammate Felipe Massa to shoot up the rankings from fifth to second, while Lewis Hamilton flew up the grid having started in 11th. Alonso’s slow start saw him get tangled up with Button and the veteran Michael Schumacher introduced himself to the party by ploughing into Alonso damaging his front wing while the Spaniard spun.
On lap six the McLaren team had a masterstroke when Button arrived in the pits early. The champion changed from wet to dry tyres, which proved to be the key moment of the race as the Englishman returned to the track and instantly began eating up the time. While Button’s opponents were slowed down by their wets, like they were driving through treacle in comparison.
Button was soon in second but Vettel still appeared to have the beating of him. Unfortunately the effervescent German was to be foiled once more, this time on lap 26, having built up an impenetrable lead the unreliable Red Bull let him down again as his wheels gave up and sent him careering onto the gravel.
This sent Button clean through with the plucky Robert Kubica pursuing him like a stray dog searching for a meal.However Button soon opened up a 12-second gap and barring a catastrophic mechanical failure his race was won.
Meanwhile things where heating up in the battle for third place. Hamilton was driving like a man possessed. There was no stopping the Stevenage speedster as he continued to move up the pack, Webber conveniently slid aside and he blasted passed him, before Massa and third place Nico Rosberg where swiftly and expertly dealt with.
However Hamilton had been desperate to get in on the dry-tyre action currently being utilised to great effect by his teammate in first place. It wasn’t until lap 34 when the congestion in the pit-lane had died-down enough to allow the 2008 champion the chance to get a fresh pair on, he then emerged all the way back in fifth place but could now go significantly faster.
To his surprise he would have seen the shiny red Ferrari of Alonso in front of him. Somehow the resilient Spanish driver had grafted his way up from 22nd place into fourth and wanted to duel it out with Hamilton just for good measure. It was showman stuff from the pair and culminated in Hamilton making a brave attempt to overtake, perhaps unwisely, as he aborted and soon after he was clattered by Mark Webber, ending his hopes of a podium finish.
It was a great drive by Hamilton but the race belonged to Button who had the sense to switch tyres early doors. Kubica put in a shift for second place while Massa will be happy with third. Notable by his absence Schumacher was nowhere to be seen, limping home in 10th place. Two races in and the German looks nothing like his former self, the one-time king of all things on four wheels has looked particularly lethargic around the track so far and must be scratching his head as to why he is so off the pace.
As for Travolta it looked like he had a great time waving the flag at the end. As a fully qualified pilot the man knows a thing or two about high speeds. He would have been impressed with the McLaren boys and he will be looking forward to following the progress of Button and Hamilton as they continue their face off.
Tags: