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Formula 1
Australian GP
F1: 2009 Australian Grand Prix Race day at Albert Park
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Jenson Button, Rubens Barrichello and Brawn GP have created history this afternoon. Button led away off the start and was challenged hard by Sebastian Vettel throughout the race.
Kazuki Nakajima brought out the safety car one-third of the way through the race, having crashed at Turn 4. The race resumed with Button in control, but under attack from Vettel and Kubica. Ultimately those two drivers took eachother out of the race, allowing Barrichello through to second, and filling the Brawn GP cup of joy to overflowing.
This was the 2009 ING Australian Grand Prix weekend on AUTOSPORT Live. We thank you for your company and comments throughout the weekend, and we will be back tomorrow as the circus quickly packs up and moves on to Malaysia next weekend.
Kazuki Nakajima brought out the safety car one-third of the way through the race, having crashed at Turn 4. The race resumed with Button in control, but under attack from Vettel and Kubica. Ultimately those two drivers took eachother out of the race, allowing Barrichello through to second, and filling the Brawn GP cup of joy to overflowing.
This was the 2009 ING Australian Grand Prix weekend on AUTOSPORT Live. We thank you for your company and comments throughout the weekend, and we will be back tomorrow as the circus quickly packs up and moves on to Malaysia next weekend.
The top three drivers in today's race stand atop the podium and are photographed by the Formula 1 snappers below - shots that will make the back page of many worldwide newspapers tomorrow following this historic result.
The champagne sprays on the podium and the party can start for Brawn GP - an amazing result.
Jarno Trulli gets his reward for third place - an incredible feat from his pitlane start.
Brawn GP team principal Ross Brawn gratefully receives the Constructors' trophy, as Rubens Barrichello is handed his award for a fine second place.
Jenson Button takes the winner's trophy with great delight.
God Save the Queen rings out over Albert Park for Jenson Button and Brawn GP, winners of the 2009 Australian Grand Prix.
In the cool-down room, Jarno Trulli congratulates the Brawn GP trio of Jenson Button, Rubens Barrichello and Ross Brawn, telling them 'I'm really happy for you guys!'
Button pulls in to parc ferme as the sensational winner of the Australian Grand Prix.
With a one-two finish, it is an incredible story for Brawn GP.
With a one-two finish, it is an incredible story for Brawn GP.
Bourdais was ninth, Sutil tenth, Heidfeld 11th, Fisichella 12th, Webber 13th, Vettel damaged at the side of the track in 14th and Kubica who crashed heavily in 15th.
Both Ferraris retired near the end of the race. Nelson Piquet lost all control of his Renault at Turn 1. Kazuki Nakajim brought out the safety car after crashing one-third of the way through the race, and Heikki Kovalainen was the first retirement, after an incident on the first lap.
Both Ferraris retired near the end of the race. Nelson Piquet lost all control of his Renault at Turn 1. Kazuki Nakajim brought out the safety car after crashing one-third of the way through the race, and Heikki Kovalainen was the first retirement, after an incident on the first lap.
There are so many talking points after a dramatic first race of the season. Stick with AUTOSPORT for all the reaction and analysis from Melbourne.
Ross Brawn congratulates his driver on the Radio. It is Button's second career win, the first since his maiden triumph in the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix.
Nico Rosberg scored points for Williams with a seventh place finish, but what a story behind him ... Sebastien Buemi scores a point for himself and Toro Rosso on his debut in Formula 1.
Jarno Trulli ended up third, from Hamilton fourth. Timo Glock was fifth and Alonso sixth.
Lap 58: Jenson Button screams across the line to win sensationally for Brawn GP on the team's debut!
Rubens Barrichello follows his team-mate across the line for a historic one-two.
Rubens Barrichello follows his team-mate across the line for a historic one-two.
Lap 58: As the safety car pits, the field will come round the final corner to cross the line, with no overtaking allowed.
Lap 58: The safety car will pit at the end of this lap.
Lap 58: It is the final lap in Melbourne.
Lap 58: The incident started when Robert Kubica sent a move round the outside of Vettel at Turn 3. The pair bumped front wings and both cars with damaged.
They both continued round with damaged front ends to their cars, but Kubica pressed on at speed. The Pole lost all front downforce entering Turn 5 and smashed into the outside wall, spinning round and littering the track with pieces of BMW.
Vettel meanwhile, tried to continue with a damaged front left corner of the Red Bull, but has since pulled off the track.
They both continued round with damaged front ends to their cars, but Kubica pressed on at speed. The Pole lost all front downforce entering Turn 5 and smashed into the outside wall, spinning round and littering the track with pieces of BMW.
Vettel meanwhile, tried to continue with a damaged front left corner of the Red Bull, but has since pulled off the track.
Lap 57: Barrichello is being urged by the team to slow down under the safety car.
Lap 57: Lewis Hamilton is past the Toyota of Trulli and will finish on the podium, having started at the back.
Lap 57: Rubens Barrichello is promoted to second and Brawn GP are on for an amazing one-two finish.
Lap 57: Both Vettel and Kubica's cars are heavily damaged and there is wreckage strewn over the track at Turn 5.
Lap 57: Jenson Button will line up first behind the safety car and is two laps away from a sensational win.
Lap 57: The safety car has been deployed.
Lap 57: The pair's damaged cars are littered around the circuit.
Lap 56: Vettel gets it all wrong, Kubica tries to take advantage at Turn 3 and they collide.
Lap 56: Lewis Hamilton and Timo Glock have now also past the ailing Rosberg, whose car is almost undriveable on those soft tyres. His last two laps were 1:34 and 1:36.161.
Lap 56: Jenson Button pulls out the lead to four seconds.
Lap 55: Jarno Trulli makes a neat move stick on Nico Rosberg. The Williams is falling back on his set of soft tyres and Nico loses fifth to the Toyota.
Lewis Hamilton is consistently running in the 1:29s and closing down on Trulli.
Lewis Hamilton is consistently running in the 1:29s and closing down on Trulli.
Lap 55: Kubica closes down to 1.3 seconds behind Vettel's Red Bull, with Button pulling away slightly in the lead on that last lap.
Lap 54: Kubica continues to close on Vettel for second, but the gap is still over two seconds.
Lap 54: Fernando Alonso rejoined from his final stop in eighth, but he has just been overtaken in a sensational move by Timo Glock round the outside of Turn 3.
Glock up into the final points-paying position (eighth), Alonso now ninth.
Glock up into the final points-paying position (eighth), Alonso now ninth.
Lap 53: With six to go in Melbourne, the lead trio are all in sight on the pit straight. Can Button hold on as his soft tyres continue to degrade?
Lap 52: Barrichello comes out fifth, behind Rosberg's Williams.
Lap 52: Glock rejoins in ninth and is immediately embroiled in a fight for position with Sebastien Buemi. Timo holds on for that place, as Fernando Alonso pits from seventh.
Lap 52: Barrichello pits from third, releasing Kubica to chase after Vettel and Button.
Lap 52: Glock pits the Toyota from sixth for a splash of fuel and the shortest possible run on the softer rubber.
Lap 51: Giancarlo Fisichella pits from eighth place, killing his chance for any points this afternoon. The stop promotes Jarno Trulli to eighth and Lewis Hamilton is right on his tail.
Lap 51: Kubica is setting the pace as he enjoys the advantage of being on the harder tyre.
By: Emlyn Hughes, Geoff Creighton
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