F1: Button off to ‘perfect start’ in season opener

McLaren driver wins Australian GP ahead of Vettel.

MELBOURNE: McLaren’s Jenson Button won the Australian Grand Prix in a thrilling start to the season as he held off two-time defending champion Sebastian Vettel in second place.

The 32-year-old Englishman started second on the grid but took advantage of a slow getaway by his pole-sitting teammate Lewis Hamilton to take the lead at the first corner, and then controlled the race all the way to the flag.

Hamilton, struggling for the pace he exhibited as he flew to pole on Saturday, finished third behind Red Bull’s defending double world champion Sebastian Vettel, who climbed from sixth on the grid.

Vettel’s recovery – aided by a timely safety car intervention – shows that he and his team are not to be taken lightly, and will be locked into what looks like a close championship battle with McLaren.

“That was beautiful, just a perfect start and it shows how good a winter can be,” said Button. “A great start to the year for me and the team.”

Local hero Australian Mark Webber came home fourth
to deliver his best finish at his home race in the second Red Bull.

Two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Ferrari was fifth after a forceful race from 12th on the grid, following a disappointing qualifying performance.

Button said his confidence was boosted as soon as he arrived in Melbourne to check into his hotel.

“I found I was staying in the same room as the last two times I won here [in 2009 and 2010] so that was a good omen I think,” he said, as Hamilton quipped, “Maybe you’ll have a different one next year.”

“Every win means a lot,” added Button. “As a team, the win shows how important the winter [testing] is.

“The guys have done a wonderful job. This win will definitely help them push hard in the extra hours in the morning and I thank them for that, doing that work for the extra parts that are so vital.”

Vettel praised Button’s performance. “I thought I would be in a good position to have a go at Button but two corners and he was gone.

“It wasn’t very easy to get away from Hamilton but Button was out of sight. He deserved to win.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 19^th, 2012.