[polleroy]

Is Jenson Button a title contender? I mean two wins in a row also two pole positions in a row. Championship leader is Jenson Button with 15 points, on second is Rubens Barrichello with 10 points.

I know it has just been two race gone but I really think they are title contenders. So what you think about Jenson Button's chances to win the title or about Brawn GP in generally?

Here the official website:
http://www.brawngp.com/

[Svatudjw]

Is Jenson Button a title contender? I mean two wins in a row also two pole positions in a row. Championship leader is Jenson Button with 15 points, on second is Rubens Barrichello with 10 points.

I know it has just been two race gone but I really think they are title contenders. So what you think about Jenson Button's chances to win the title or about Brawn GP in generally?

Here the official website:
http://www.brawngp.com/

Better wait till after the Diffusergate hearing before you count your Prawns as championship material. But if I were to take a punt, then the Prawn could be winners, especially cooked over a bunsen.

[Gudronich]

Can all teams produce the same diffuser, isn't it part of aerodynamic package?

On a discussion about my wish on WDC but not sure whereabouts, Jenson Button is the first in my list...

[Usendyduexy]

If the FIA does not DQ them, I think that they at least will fight for the titles.

[VXHLrsO1]

Can all teams produce the same diffuser, isn't it part of aerodynamic package?

On a discussion about my wish on WDC but not sure whereabouts, Jenson Button is the first in my list...

If it's deemed legal then yes all teams should be able to follow. That said, it's not that easy. They would need time aero testing etc so would be pushed so far back in time and development that it would be too late.

By the time the others catch up the WDC would have likely passed.

[Ikrleprl]

If it's deemed legal then yes all teams should be able to follow. That said, it's not that easy. They would need time aero testing etc so would be pushed so far back in time and development that it would be too late.

By the time the others catch up the WDC would have likely passed.

Can not see how its possible, i may be wrong but dose the testing ban mean windtunnel testing as well.

[Ikrleprl]

Better wait till after the Diffusergate hearing before you count your Prawns as championship material. But if I were to take a punt, then the Prawn could be winners, especially cooked over a bunsen.

Ah so its not chuck a few shrimps on the barbi

[lYVgWWcP]

Brawn need to make the most of the flyaway races. A pity they couldn't get the full 10 points from Malaysia.

I suspect we may well see more victories in China and Bahrain, then the real fight will start as the grandee teams, especially Ferrari, come back up to speed.

Brawn possibly needs to start thinking about team orders, yes, it's early, but this could well be their one and only shot at the championship, they need to make sure Button takes the maximum points away from every race, even if it means moving Rubens out of the way.

[zCLadw3R]

Brawn possibly needs to start thinking about team orders, yes, it's early, but this could well be their one and only shot at the championship, they need to make sure Button takes the maximum points away from every race, even if it means moving Rubens out of the way.

One thing that has struck me a couple of times is a difference between the two Brawn drivers. JB very much seems to be the 'team' man. Of course he's been with BAR/Honda/Brawn a long time, and has effectively invested his career in them. Of course he's now been rewarded with race wins but I still have the sense that he is very much an integral part of this whole Brawn team.

Rubens, on the other hand, seems to be racing more for himself. He's made comparisons with his current situation, and that which he found himself while with Ferrari, a number of times. It's as if he has something to prove to himself and everyone else and this winning Brawn car is giving him the chance to do that.

The problem for him, with JB winning, is he could well find himself back in a Ferrari-type situation once again

[Gudronich]

Firstly, as the quality wise Button is fairly a better raw material, I can't remember too much when did he crash on someone, the most possible reason forces him retired form a race was for engine fault. I can say Ruben drove like touching everybody at Melbourne.

Secondly, Button has some degree to which the output of a system accurately reproduces the essential characteristics of its input resulted from fidelity dedicated for the team, taking the risk of sacrificing the rest of his career with the team.

The closest comparison that Ruben resembles Massa roles, either for their similar driving style or their destiny.

[bypeTeenehalT]

Branw arent contenders. They're the leaders. They are definatly in it no question. and at the moment Brawn and Button are the favourites for me. I think its a question of who will challenge them rather than who will they challenge

[HQTheodore]

The Brawn car is a very good car indeed. If you take Jenson out of the equation, it seems on a par with Toyota and slightly ahead of the rest.

Jenson is making the most of the opportunity and proving what a few of us have already maintained.

Lets see if the vastly superior resourses of the bigger teams overtake the Brawn car in the next few races but if they can keep on par with development and not fall behind the curve, then Button could very well bring it home.

[lYVgWWcP]

Lets see if the vastly superior resourses of the bigger teams overtake the Brawn car in the next few races but if they can keep on par with development and not fall behind the curve, then Button could very well bring it home.

But as EJ has said, teams can't spend their way out of problems any more, due to the lack of testing. Let's see if that is bourne out.

Perhaps we will see situations in the future where the car you have at the start of the season is pretty much what you're stuck with since you don't have opportunity to fix it.

[OnerePeepsy]

One thing that has struck me a couple of times is a difference between the two Brawn drivers. JB very much seems to be the 'team' man. Of course he's been with BAR/Honda/Brawn a long time, and has effectively invested his career in them. Of course he's now been rewarded with race wins but I still have the sense that he is very much an integral part of this whole Brawn team.

Rubens, on the other hand, seems to be racing more for himself. He's made comparisons with his current situation, and that which he found himself while with Ferrari, a number of times. It's as if he has something to prove to himself and everyone else and this winning Brawn car is giving him the chance to do that.

That's a good observation, I think you're probably right. A possible example of this: Rubens' comments about his slow pit stops yesterday sounded like he was publicly blaming the mechanics for making a mistake. Contrast Jenson's response to his slow pit stop in Australia - he stated in the official press conference that the mistake was his.

Of course it may well be quite true that Jenson was at fault there, but the cause of the slow stop wasn't at all obvious and he didn't have to publicly take the blame. Similarly Rubens may be blameless, but he could have made his criticisms in private.

[MzTT]

BGP001 is a brilliant racing car, I'd say clearly above others at the moment. No matter how does the diffuser-gate end, I expect BGP to remain among front-runners, this is just how impressive they have seemed so far despite DDD.

And I think Button is the biggest title contender at the moment. He proved already in 2004-2006 that he can be very consistent in a good car, so even if others raise their game, it will still be difficult to eat up the gap that has been created. JB may keep his lead by having 2005-alonsoesque season - after getting an early advantage achieves consistent high points without shining too much and keeps the lead.

Before the season I expected Button to beat Barrichello in 2009 and so far it seems to be going that way. I think 2007-2008 was really quite much down to JB's lack of motivation and RB's real need to prove himself. Now Button is on the top of his game again like in 2006 and Rubens is left behind. Shame for Barrichello, I hoped to see him doing well this year and if he won the title, it would be a fantastic story, but alas he seems to be more like a perennial No.2. And unlike Button he has been making mistakes this year too - due to desperation that '09 might be his last chance?

[steansathtpos]

Brawn GP would appear to have a fundamentally sorted car. How much of that is down to the diffuser is open to question, but it can't JUST be the reason, surely? The Red Bulls look pretty racey, and they have "standard" diffusers, so maybe it's just that the midfield teams stole a march on the big boys due to not being embroiled in a title fight to the death? I'm sure the others will catch up, but given how much of a pig that McLaren seems to be at the moment, I'm not convinced simply bolting a trick diffuser to it will solve things. Even if they DO get on the pace and Brawn fade slightly, there are now far more drivers regularly vying for decent points finishes (both Toyotas, Red Bull, Williams etc), so the odds of one driver clawing back a big gap diminish. If Brawn can build up a lead and then defend it, I think Button is in with a very good shot at the WDC, especially if Rubens keeps mixing it up behind him. Shaping up to be a fascinating season.

[EtellaObtaite]

I ain't writing Rubens off just yet. He's been very close to Jenson's pace.

[exeftWabreava]

Is Jenson Button a title contender? I mean two wins in a row also two pole positions in a row. Championship leader is Jenson Button with 15 points, on second is Rubens Barrichello with 10 points.

I know it has just been two race gone but I really think they are title contenders. So what you think about Jenson Button's chances to win the title or about Brawn GP in generally?

Here the official website:
http://www.brawngp.com/

If they are lucky enough to follow the Renault model of 2005-2006 then they can be: Push hard at the beginning, piling up points, then consistently score at the end once everyone else catches up.

[lYVgWWcP]

Button himself has said that he's at is best when the car is well balanced and that he has trouble driving around problems.

[AttableBewNaw]

They not only have the best car on the grid, the have something else:

1. Do you remember the Nakajima incident at Melbourne, when it took the stewards almost 2 laps to deploy the safety car? Guess who hadn't come to the pits for fuel? Just when Button pitted the SC was out...

2. Why the racing director was so desperate to finish the race at Malasya, even if it meant driving on a flooded track with no visibility for nine laps and behind the SC??? certainly they were no thinking about us, the viewers or the fans... Where they trying to finish the race at all costs so Button could get his 10 points? this will really help him to get a good lead in the standing points...

Anyways, wheather this is just a coincidence or has some truth within, I think Button is in for the Championship, those Brawn GP are great to watch. Very good car + good pilot = championship.

We shall see if it is not too late for the rest to catch up.