Qualification: In Spain, Button claims pole position again!

The qualifying session for the Spanish Grand Prix, the first in Europe, has delivered its verdict. It’s Button on Brawn GP who will start in pole position at the Barcelona circuit. The Brit managed to claim the best time at the expense of Sebastian Vettel. The Red Bull driver was provisionally in pole after the end of Q3. Barrichello will start third. Massa is also on the second row while Alonso and his Renault will start only 8th. Disappointment for the McLarens and for Räikkönen.

It’s 2 p.m., and for the first time this season without any time difference, the lights turn green. It’s 23°C in the ambient air, over 40°C on the track, and clouds are present but not threatening. Sutil is the first to take off in Q1. The Force India driver has had the least track time during the weekend and must continue to improve his car during the qualifying session. The Toyotas and Fisichella also exit their garages very quickly.

Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock are the first to set reference times. Buemi and Bourdais are also well placed, but after the first run of all the drivers, it’s Massa, Red Bull, and Brawn GP who seem to be in form. After 20 minutes and the end of Q1, Massa is ahead of Webber, Button, and Vettel.

To the great surprise of the spectators, neither Kovalainen nor Räikkönen were able to qualify for Q2. It seems that Ferrari and McLaren once again believed they had enough of a lead and didn’t need to send the driver back on track. Räikkönen has therefore fallen victim to the same mistake that happened to Massa in Malaysia, and coincidentally, Schumacher is back in the pits: Something that will surely get the gossiping tongues wagging.

Kovalainen did not want to comment on an error by his team: « I don’t know what happened, it’s hard to say. I think we lacked a bit of grip, but the car wasn’t that bad. We have to keep pushing. »

At the end of Q1, the eliminated drivers are: Räikkönen in 16th place, Bourdais – despite Buemi’s eleventh position at the same stage and three-tenths better, Kovalainen who will start 18th, and the two Force India drivers; Sutil and Fisichella. The German driver made a few mistakes but still outpaced the experienced Italian teammate. Five-minute break.

The Williams drivers are the first to head out for Q2. They are followed by Buemi and Piquet. Sébastien Buemi will make the only mistake of the session. He had a big spin, continuing his drive into the gravel. Only the left rear wheel touched the wall, but the car needs to be completely cleaned. Buemi will lose four minutes in the pit and by the end of Q2 he won’t be able to compete with the other drivers. The changes made to the STR4 do not seem optimized yet.

The session sees no other incidents and Hamilton is unable to break into the top 10. Piquet was expected to enter Q3 today but won’t make it, with Nakajima being the first eliminated. Both Toyota, Brawn GP, and Red Bull qualify for the final part of qualifying, as well as Alonso (Renault), Rosberg (Williams), Massa (Ferrari), and Kubica (BMW). Thus, seven teams will once again be represented in the top 10 on the starting grid.

Nakajima will start 11th, ahead of Piquet and Heidfeld. The BMWs have made some progress, enough to outpace the McLarens. Hamilton is only 14th and manages to beat Buemi in the Toro Rosso by two-tenths of a second. Five-minute break.

In this final part of the qualifications, on the Catalunya circuit and under the waves of the Spanish crowd, it was the Toyotas that once again came out first. Alonso also exited quickly. He seemed to be in 5th place and held this position for a long time, battling with Massa and the Toyotas. Button, on the other hand, stayed back throughout the session, often setting the 3rd or 4th best time. The pole seemed set for the Red Bulls. Vettel was ahead of Webber. But with three minutes left in the session, the Brawn GPs woke up. Barrichello first set the provisional best time. Vettel took it back, and a distance battle ensued.

Behind, Alonso and Trulli go for their last fast lap under the timing line. At the end of this lap, the Spaniard finds himself 5th before Trulli takes his position. There are still 4 drivers on their timed lap. Glock improves and moves up to 5th. Button is then 8th, Massa 3rd, and Vettel in the lead. The classification seems set for these last seconds, and only Jenson Button remains on track. The Englishman completes a clean lap, not hindered by anyone; he improves all his sectors – without setting records – and secures a very good position. In his car, shouts of joy are the order of the day, « perfect lap » comments Brawn from his booth.

Button will therefore start on pole for the third time this season, ahead of Vettel and his teammate Barrichello. Felipe Massa proves Ferrari’s return with 4th place, ahead of the other Red Bull. The Toyotas are 6th and 7th, ahead of Alonso despite higher expectations. Nico Rosberg in the Williams is 9th with a lot of fuel, while Kubica will start from 10th position tomorrow.

Results of Qualifying – Spanish GP – Saturday, May 09, 2009: