Formula One Features

Button's joy, Hamilton's anger as F1 is reborn

By John Bagratuni Mar 29, 2010, 18:30 GMT

The car of Spanish Formula One driver Fernando Alonso (front) of Scuderia spins after coming into contact with the car of British Formula One driver Jenson Button of McLaren Mercedes. EPA/SRDJAN SUKI

Hamburg - McLaren drivers Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton found themselves on opposite sides of the emotional spectrum after the Australian Grand Prix while there was agreement that the race had restored faith in Formula One.

The 2009 world champion Button won the Melbourne race the second straight year due to an early change to slick tyres while the 2008 champ Hamilton fumed at team officials over a second pit stop which saw him come sixth in the end instead of a possible second or better.

Sunday also saw all the racing excitement the sport had lacked at the dull and procession-like season-opener in Bahrain two weeks ago.

'Boring? Who said anything about boring? Formula One rediscovered its vroom Down Under on Sunday as Formula One's 'cool guy' Jenson Button claimed his maiden victory for McLaren in an incident-packed, rain-affected Australian Grand Prix,' said Britain's Daily Telegraph on Monday.

Button was lucky to escape unscathed in the first turn when he briefly touched with Fernando Alonso's Ferrari and was pushed into the Mercedes GP of Michael Schumacher which ruined all chances of the seven-time world champion from Germany.

All drivers started on intermediates after a pre-race shower but Button then switched to slick tyres in the sixth lap, two laps before everyone else, on a rapidly drying Albert Park track.

Button eventually won because the leading Red Bull of Sebastian Vettel went out with a wheel problem, but that should take nothing away from the champ.

There had been raised eyebrows when Button decided to join the team around Hamilton after his success in 2009, with many wondering whether things would work out between the two Britons.

'This was the eighth victory of the world champion's career but arguably the most important given the 'Lion's Den' he was presumed to have entered at McLaren; the house that Ron Dennis built around Lewis Hamilton,' said the Daily Telegraph.

The key to victory was the tyre change which had been Button's decision alone.

'Button's slick tactics earn repeat victory in pulsating contest,' said The Times.

Button said: 'The pit stop was my call. It's a lot easier for the driver to feel the conditions than the guys in the pits. It was the right call and I'm very happy that I made it. We'll take a lot from this. I feel I'm building in confidence and hopefully we can do something similar in the next race.

'This is a very special victory because I've only been with this team for a short time. It's taken a little time to get to grips with a new car and to adapt inside the cockpit, but the team has been fantastic.'

Hamilton was left to lament a 'freaking terrible' decision via team radio after having to change tyres again in mid-race.

But even his sixth place was better than the fate Vettel had to swallow, after already having lost the lead (and coming fourth) in Bahrain.

'It's a shame as I think we had the race in total control at every stage, even though the conditions were difficult. But to win you have to finish.

But there's still a long way to go in this championship. We're working hard to get on top the reliability issues and we hope to have a solid race and see the chequered flag in Malaysia,' Vettel said, looking ahead at the weekend race in Sepang.