Sports

Friday October 2, 2009

F1 action returns to Suzuka after a three-year absence

JAPAN F1 GRAND PRIX
SUZUKA (OCT 3)

After a three-year absence, Formula One returns this weekend to one of its traditional and most-revered racing homes with Briton Jenson Button bidding to lift the drivers world title at Suzuka.

The 29-year-old Englishman, who leads the title race by 15 points ahead of his Brawn GP team-mate Rubens Barrichello, knows that a victory and ill-fortune for his leading rivals could secure the crown.

He knows also that a podium finish could be enough if the rest fail to cut his lead to less than 20 points with two races remaining in Brazil and Abu Dhabi.

But most of all he knows that there is a rich irony for him and the Brawn team in having an opportunity to secure both the drivers and the constructors championships on Honda’s home stamping ground.

Honda were the previous owners of the now-Brawn team before boss Ross Brawn led a consortium that performed a buyout and saved them from extinction on the eve of the season.

And that delicious twist of fate will not be lost on Button or any of his team as they return to a track they love for its wonderful racing characteristics.

“Suzuka is a fantastic racing circuit and a classic drivers’ track so we are delighted to be returning there this weekend,” said Brawn.

“It is a venue that has played host to some great races over the years and with all the hard work that has been undertaken recently to improve the facilities, it should prove to be an even better venue for the Japanese Grand Prix after the three-year break.”

Button, who has 84 points to Brazil’s Barrichello on 69, with German Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull third on 59, said he had good memories at Suzuka.

“It’s a very fast-flowing lap and a real drivers’ circuit just like Silverstone and Spa,” he said.

“I think everyone has missed having it on the calendar for the last few years.

“I’ve had some moments there in the past. I’ve always enjoyed great support at Suzuka in the past from the Japanese fans who are so enthusiastic about the sport so we’ll be hoping for more of the same this weekend.”

Barrichello was equally enthusiastic and knows he may have to repeat his brilliant result from 2003 when, while with Ferrari, he took pole position and won the race, if he is to overhaul Button.

Both men are not only rivals for the title, but also appear to be rivals for a seat at the team next season.

According to paddock observers, Button is struggling to reach an agreement to stay and Barrichello, while tempted by a move to Williams, is understood to want to remain at Brawn if Button departs.

If he goes to Williams, Barrichello is likely to partner German rookie Nico Hulkenberg who recently won the GP2 title in record time, in what is likely to be one of the busiest off-season driver merry-go-rounds in recent times.

None of that is expected to bother last year’s world champion, Briton Lewis Hamilton of McLaren, who won last weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix.

He is likely to have Kimi Raikkonen as a team-mate next season after Spain’s Fernando Alonso was announced as the Finn’s replacement at Ferrari for 2010 season. — AFP

  • E-mail this story
  • Print this story

Sports Poll