Jenson Button won a totally enthralling Canadian GP. In a GP in which we will be talking about for some time, Jenson just managed to beat the Red Bull's of Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel.
The race started with rain. It wasn't very heavy, but on the track their was several areas of standing water. It didn't take long for Charlie Whiting to decide to start the race under the safety car. The Safety Car watched them do three laps, then it dived into the pits so the race could properly start. It didn't take long to come to life. Into the first corner, Lewis Hamilton tried to take Mark Webber going into the first corner. They both gave each other room, but traction was the problem for the McLaren, as the two came together. Mark spun, but Lewis got away relatively unharmed. Lewis let Jenson Button past, but Button soon went wide, letting both Hamilton and Michael Schumacher through. Going into the large turn 10, Michael pushed Lewis out-wide looking for the best line. Lewis went the long way around the corner, letting Jenson back through.
At the front, Vettel was 4 seconds ahead of Alonso, with Massa staying right behind his Ferrari team mate. Behind them, the McLaren's were fighting. Jenson had the lead coming onto the pit straight, with Lewis trying to overtake him on the outside. As Jenson took the racing line, getting closer to the pit wall, Lewis ran out of room, clipped the back of Jenson's car, and the rear of Lewis' McLaren bounced of the pit wall. Lewis had to retire, after damage to the cars suspension. Jenson pitted, and when he came out, he had come out on the intermediate tyres.
So on Lap 10, Vettel still lead the Ferrari's, followed by the Mercedes', Kobayashi, the two Renault's, Webber and De La Rosa (on his first race of 2011). The McLaren incident resulted in a safety car, and when it came in, it was more bad news for Button. He had gone to fast under the safety car, earning himself a drive-through penalty. He came out 14th, behind Rubens Barrichello. He soon began to fly, taking Barrichello, and them his team mate - Pastor Maldonado. Ahead of him, Mark Webber was also flying, taking both Renault's, and closing in on Kobayashi.
Inters were the tyres to be on. Alonso followed suit, and so did Rosberg. Most of the field followed, and the decision seemed to be paying off. Alonso had taken Heidfeld, and Button was taking Petrov. However, it had started to rain again. And soon, the rain was getting harder and harder until cars started to struggle. Button and Alonso came back for the Wets, just as the safety car went out. The leaders also pitted for fresh tyres, giving them effectively - a free pit stop. As the rain got harder, the drivers started to complain to their teams and Charlie Whiting. It wasn't long until the red flag came out, and the race was stopped. On lap 22 it was Vettel, followed by Kamui Kobaysahi, who had gained during the pit stops. He was folowed by Massa, then Heidfeld, Petrov, Di Restas, Webber, Alonso, De La Rosa, Button, Rosberg and Schumacher.
A long period ensued. Teams and drivers had to wait two hours under the safety car. They were allowed to change tyres, and adjust bits on the car, but that didn't take long. The only entertainment to be found was in Rihanna dodging a falling camera man, and a Red Winged Blackbird.
Soon; however, the rain slowed, and we were racing again. The safety car lead them out first, but it soon left them to it again. Cars began to stream into the pit lane for intermediate tyres. Kobayashia and Massa fought for second place behind Vettel, with the Sauber driver victorious for now. The leaders also pitted, with the Ferrari's having to double pit, losing Alonso valuable seconds. As Fernando exited the pits, he came out next to a flying Jenson Button. They both tries to get around turn three together, and Alonso came out worse, spun, and was beached on the sleeping policeman on the outer edge of turn 4. This got the safety car out AGAIN, and Vettel took his opertunity to have another "free pit stop". Vettel still led Kobayashi, with Massa third. They were followed by Heidfeld, De La Rosa, Webber, Schumacher, Petrov and Rosberg. with Button down in 21st place. When the safety car re-entered the pits, it was the Williams' turn to push. Both Rubens and Pastor took Nico Rosberg, and a Webber mistake let Schumacher through.
Di Resta began to be aggressive, too aggressive. Paul broke his front wing on the back of Nick Heidfeld's Renault, eventually earning him a drive-through penalty. On lap 47, all focus were on tow drivers - Michael Schumacher and Jenson Button. Michael looked 10 years younger, as he took Heidfled for fifth, and closed in on Massa and Kobayashi. Button was also pushing. After being in 21st and last place, we was now tenth, and beginning to close in on the Renault's and Mark Webber. The track had also started to dry out - with drivers starting to swith to the super-soft slick tyres. It wasn't long either until the DRS was enable, as it was not allowed during the rain.
At the front, the front-runners pitted for the slicks, and Michael Schumacher continued to push. He had managed to pass both Kobayashi and Massa, and was slowly closing in on Sebastian Vettel. Mark Webber had joined Jenson Button in getting the bit in between his teeth as well. Mark was setting fastest laps, as did Jenson, as the two started to climb. Mark had got past Kobayashi and Massa, and was closing down Schumacher. Button, had also managed to get past them, and was flying in fourth, closing the top three down at a considerable rate of knots.
However, things were about to turn again. Heidfeld clipped the back of Kobayashi's car around turn 2, and his front wing soon came loose, shot under the car, sending Nick's car into a small jump, and out of the race. The debris was too much, bringing out the safety car for a final time. After the debris had been cleared, and marshalls dodged, the safety car came in, leaving the four fastest cars to sort themselves out. As Michael, Mark and Jenson fought among themselves, Sebastian began to create a small gap.
Nothing separated second, third and fourth. It was going to be the DRS that got the action into life. Webber, using his DRS, managed to pass Schumacher into the last corner, but cut the chicane to do so. He had to give his position back. He did, and had another go. However, he overshot his breaking point, and went across the chicane again. This time Jenson was ready, and managed to jump Mark for third. Jenson soon showed Mark how to do it, as he passed Michael down the back straight. Mark soon followed suit. Jenson though, was not done. He set about doing fastest lap, after fastest lap in the hunt for the race victory. On lap 70 out of 70, Button had caught Vettel. He was within a second so could use his DRS, so he was in with shot. However, Button would not have to use it. Going into the second chicane, Sebastian got his tyres onto a slight damp patch on the track, and he went wide, letting Jenson past. Button seized the opertunity, and took the rest of lap with ease as he took his first victory of the season.
Jenson Button had managed to get his car from 21st to 1st in a matter of a few laps, while Sebastian had lead every lap bar the last. His mistake only cost him first, as he managed to bring his Red Bull third. Mark beat off any competition from Michael to take third, with Schumacher fourth. Behind them, Massa was still behind Kobayashi, and going into the last chicane Felipe was right behind him. Using his DRS, we out-dragged Kamui, to take sixth by a couple-thousands of a second.
Race Results
Pos - Driver - Team - Rank
1 - Jenson Button - McLren - 5
2 - Sebastian Vettel - Red Bull - 1
3 - Mark Webber - Red Bull - 2
4 - Michael Schumacher - Mercedes - 12
5 - Vitaly Petrov - Renault - 17
6 - Felipe Massa - Ferrari - 6
7 - Kamui Kobayashi - Sauber - 18
8 - Jaime Alguersuari - Toro Rosso - 20
9 - Rubens Barrichello - Williams - 8
10 - Sebastian Buemi - Toro Rosso - 16
11 - Nico Rosberg - Mercedes - 7
12 - Pedro De La Rosa - Sauber - 25
13 - Vitantonio Liuzzi - HRT - 22
14 - Narain Karthikeyan - HRT - 38
15 - Jerome D'Ambrosio - Virgin - 33
16 - Timo Glock - Virgin - 19
17 - Jarno Trulli - Lotus - 15
18 - Paul Di Resta - Force India - 27
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