2009 F1 Round 1 Australian GP quali: Button does it, Brawn fairytale continues

Double decker diffusers and pull-rod suspension trumps KERS.

Hamilton's pole from last year was 1:26:714, Button's time was 1:26:202, that is over half a second faster. Barrichello set the fastest time of the quali in Q2 with a 1:24.783 which is about 0.6 off the 2004 lap record set by Michael Schumacher in a V10 powered rocketship.

The Brawn cars looks really good, pace wise and aesthetically: I really like the fluorescent green on the car, they look really striking in a minimalistic way, though they are practically sponsor-free with some Virgin logos and some Bridgestone ones. If a Brawn car wins tomorrow and especially if they get a 1-2, sponsors will come to them I am sure.

Webber and Vettel is driving an Adrian Newey designed car and at the moment it looks good, with Vettel starting in P3. Renault engine was given a boost over the off season and it looks to be a good-un.

Kubica is driving a KERS-less BMW and he trumped Heidfeld's one with KERS.

Rosberg manages to drive the Williams well, Nakajima not so much.

Toyota are looking good-ish, Massa's Ferrari splitting them and Räikkönen just behind.

Edit: looks like Toyota has been excluded from qualifying. Their rear-wings are too flexible. They will start at the back, but I won't update the grid listing below because the grid can change more before the race starts, say if Hamilton has to change his gearbox or whatever.

Alonso out-qualifies Piquet once again, but Alonso overcooked the second-to-last corner of his last flying lap in Q2 and abandoned the lap. Dunno if he was on a good lap.

Mclaren is basically in the crapper. Car just doesn't have downforce and a technical problem on top of that doesn't make a for a good start to the season.

Bourdais is out qualified by the only rookie in the field, Buemi. Bourdais needs to get results, he is a 4 times Champcar champion.

The Force Indias look to be lacking in downforce, because the engine is good as Brawn demonstrates.

The grid for tomorrow's race:
P1 Button - Brawn - Diffuser
P2 Barrichello - Brawn - Diffuser
P3 Vettel - Red Bull - pull-rod suspension
P4 Kubica - BMW
P5 Rosberg - Williams - Diffuser
P6 Glock - Toyota - Diffuser - time's been deleted, start at the back
P7 Massa - Ferrari - KERS
P8 Trulli - Toyota - Diffuser - time's been deleted, start at the back
P9 Räikkönen - Ferrari - KERS
P10 Webber - Red Bull - pull-rod suspension
P11 Heidfeld - BMW
P12 Alonso - Renault - KERS
P13 Nakajima - Williams - Diffuser
P14 Kovalainen - McLaren - KERS
P15 Hamilton - McLaren - KERS (technical problem after Q1)
P16 Buemi - Toro Rosso
P17 Piquet - Renault - KERS
P18 Fisichella - Force India
P19 Sutil - Force India
P20 Bourdais - Toro Rosso

Diffuser means the clever double decker diffuser design that is legal for now but under appeal
Pull-rod: these cars may have a problem if the diffuser appeal is thrown out because this design needs to be reworked if a double decker diffuser is to be installed
KERS: regenerative braking system, 80 bhp boost

Can't wait for tomorrow!