Formula 1: Button defends lead in the standings at Shanghai
Thanks to his third place in the rain race of the Chinese Grand Prix Brawn-Mercedes driver Jenson Button continues heading the standings after the third round of the Formula 1 season. Team-mate Rubens Barrichello in fourth place complemented the racing team痴 good performance. Both drivers rely on dampers from ZF Sachs Race Engineering in their cars. A strong performance as well was shown by Timo Glock. After starting from the pit lane, the German, whose Toyota is equipped with a clutch from Schweinfurt, finished seventh, thus scoring points for the third time in 2009 and ranking third in the championship. The last championship point went to the young Swiss S饕astien Buemi. The Toro Rosso driven by the 20-year-old is fitted with dampers and a clutch from ZF Sachs Race Engineering.
Results, Chinese GP (CN), 3rd round of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship, 17 Apr ・19 Apr 2009:
1. S. Vettel, Red Bull-Renault, 1h57m43.485s
2. M. Webber, Red Bull-Renault, + 10.970s
3. J. Button, Brawn-Mercedes, + 44.975s, ZF Sachs
4. R. Barrichello, Brawn-Mercedes, + 1m03.704s, ZF Sachs
5. H. Kovalainen, McLaren-Mercedes, + 1m05.102s
6. L. Hamilton, McLaren-Mercedes, + 1m11.866s
7. T. Glock, Toyota, + 1m14.476s, ZF Sachs
8. S. Buemi, STR-Ferrari, + 1m16.439s, ZF Sachs
Drivers championship:
1. J. Button, 21 points; 2. R. Barrichello, 15; 3. S. Vettel and T. Glock, 10 each; 5. M. Webber, 9; 6. J. Trulli, 8; 7. N. Heidfeld, L. Hamilton, H. Kovalainen, and F. Alonso, 4 each.
Constructors championship:
1. Brawn-Mercedes, 36 points; 2. Red Bull-Renault, 19; 3. Toyota, 18; 4. McLaren-Mercedes, 8; 5. Renault, STR-Ferrari and BMW Sauber, 4 each; 8. Williams-Toyota, 3.