Highlights - Turkish Grand Prix  Button's imperious form led to another afternoon of celebration in Turkey |
Jenson Button demonstrated, with his sixth win of the season at the Turkish Grand Prix, that he is into a total comfort zone with himself, his car, and his team. His chief rival Sebastian Vettel started on pole but the 21-year-old German's mistake when negotiating Turn 10 on the opening lap allowed Button to glide by him and into the lead. Despite that piece of good fortune, Button had the presence of mind not to just drive on his mirrors to defend against Vettel, but to keep running the race at his own pace and conserve his tyres. Even when Vettel applied pressure in his second stint Button didn't get flustered, proving his increasing maturity and calmness. Vettel would not have won the race anyway in Istanbul because the Red Bulls just did not have the speed to beat Button. The team's decision to put Vettel on a three-stop strategy meant he had no choice but to leap into the first corner and drive as if he had stolen the car, trying to build a significant gap before the first pit stop. His error blew that option as he was stuck in the turbulent air of the peerless combination of Brawn and Button.  | Vettel's refusal to back off was a bit reckless when each team is restricted to using eight engines per driver over a season |
On the face of it, it was a real surprise that Vettel's team didn't revert to a two-stop strategy after his early error - and Vettel told the BBC after the race he was surprised too. When I asked the team about this it became more clear. Had they have reverted to a two stop for Vettel they were going to finish second and third at best unless Button broke down. Their strategy was to have Vettel on a light fuel load and hopefully hustling Button into an error as their only chance of victory. They then had a split strategy, too, between the cars in case of a safety car period. In other words, their decisions were based on what was best for the team and not just Vettel. As it happened, the winner of this season's Chinese Grand Prix ended up behind his team-mate Mark Webber in third and even further adrift of Button in the points table. So Red Bull took second and third anyway, and we mustn't underestimate Mark Webber's performance in any way.  Webber and Vettel's battle could cause headaches for Red Bull |
The most costly outcome to Christian Horner's team is that Webber has closed the gap on Vettel to just one-and-a half points. The dilemma the team principal now faces is that he does not have an obvious driver to stack all his chips on in the attempt to chase down Button. Despite clear instruction, Vettel had no intention of backing off as he pushed Webber in the closing laps and the Australian couldn't drop off the pace either. A transmission from Vettel's team radio revealed he was even trying to set the fastest lap of the race as he homed in on Webber's tail. It was all a bit reckless really when each team is restricted to using eight engines per driver over a season. Vettel has already blown three so to have both drivers revving to the limit into the last laps when second and third are already in the bag could have been dangerous. | If Ferrari or Red Bull start winning races then Brawn may have to defend Button's lead using Barrichello to do it |
At the same time Button was coasting with his engine. Now, Red Bull have a competitive situation within their own garage as their drivers are taking points off each other, whereas events in Istanbul proved the opposite is happening at Brawn. Rubens Barrichello had a terrible slice of luck in the second Brawn. The anti-stall mechanism on his car kicked into action on the grid and he found himself swallowed by the field, only to then lose seventh gear. In a sterling fight back he managed to run into 15% of the grid at some point before retiring. The fact that his car let him down for the first time this season will still frustrate him immensely. What's more, Barrichello is very catchable now by one of the Red Bull or Ferrari drivers in the world championship. If Ferrari or Red Bull come up with a fandango piece of kit and start winning races then Brawn may have to defend Button's lead using Barrichello to do it. For now, Button is only concerned with savouring his victory and targeting the next one on home soil at Silverstone. The Englishman is clearly looking forward to the British Grand Prix. For many years, Button was able to empathise with Tim Henman's experiences at Wimbledon - the hopes of a nation behind him but not able to deliver. | 606: DEBATE |
He said at the weekend that he had found it embarrassing racing in front of his home crowd because he had no chance of delivering on their insatiable expectation when he was grappling with an uncompetitive car. Button says he felt he let his fans down, but now he has both the car and the skill, and he is hoping he can finally come up with the goods. In less than two weeks' time we will find out if Button will make it to seventh heaven at Silverstone. Martin Brundle was talking to Sarah Holt
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