Formula One: Australian Grand Prix, Raceday Part 4
It all went from bad to worse for Jenson Button’s McLaren. First, he found himself being over taken by a much superior Red Bull on the day at turn 4. Second, the stewards announced a drive through penalty for Button.
Sticking to the McLarens, provisional race leader, Lewis Hamilton, made his way for a pit stop and slapped on a fresh set of soft tyres. He made his way to the race track and rejoined just behind Button, but the latter allowed him to go past – Sebastian
Vettel was back in front.
As the race headed into lap 18, Heikki Kovalainen’s Lotus was spotted running off-track into the grass at turn 1 while battling with Kamui Kobayashi. Button served his drive through penalty.
The following lap brought Michael Schumacher in the spot light as the seven time World Champion dived into the pits to make his second stop of the day. He was effectively last in the running order in 21st place and a lap down to race leader Vettel.
Button made his second routine pit stop to take on another set of softer compound tyres. Since the Briton was yet to run his mandatory stint in the hard compound Pirellis, he would have to pit again during the race.
Moments later, a warning was issued to the Virgin of Timo Glock by Race Control for running excessively ‘slowly’ around the track. Nick Heidfeld was right behind the second Force India of Adrian Sutil in 15th, while di Resta was pressurizing Button
for 12th spot.
Rubens Barrichello made a brave move past Kobayashi to take over P-9 as the race entered lap 22. The Brazilian veteran was evidently trying hard to recover from his off-track heroics on the first lap.
Barrichello’s former Ferrari teammate, Michael Schumacher, pulled into the pits and was effectively out of the race – Not a good omen for a driver that claimed to make his mark after an abysmal comeback season last year.
Meanwhile, Barrichello looked to be a ‘Man on a Mission’ as he pressurised the sole surviving Mercedes of Nico Rosberg for 8th position. Fully utilising the capabilities of the softer Pirellis, the Brazilian was setting up the car in front for
a potential overtaking move – But disaster! – The Williams slammed into the left-rear of the Mercedes as he out braked himself trying to overtake Rosberg into turn 3. While Rosberg was still able to soldier on, Barrichello’s spin and subsequent stop signalled
the end to his race.
Stay tuned...
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