Spanish GP: Will Brawn GP’s arrival in Europe remain at the top?

If the concept of ‘champion by number of victories’ had been applied this season, Jenson Button, Brawn driver, would have a significant advantage at this stage of the year. He has won three of the first four races. His lead is still felt in the championship. With the help of his teammate, Rubens Barichello, Brawn GP now has 50 points with a large lead over the second. The question now is whether the Brackley team can falter in Europe and not win the title at the end of the season?

For the moment, the first European race is scheduled in Spain, and the BGP 001 will have some updates. Confidence and calm prevail within the team as everyone knows that the cars are reliable and technical problems are unlikely.

Jenson Button – Racing Driver

« Although the team only had four days of testing at the Circuit de Catalunya in March, I know the track very well. It’s a pleasure to return to Europe with this Grand Prix. You need a car with a good level of downforce because a lap is completed very quickly on this circuit. We are fortunate to have a predictable car with a good level of reliability, which allows us to feel completely confident in the fast corners. »

« It’s a very difficult circuit for overtaking, so you need to position yourself as a favorite right from the start. I went to the factory last week to congratulate all the staff on our success and to observe the latest developments on the car. We know that staying on top is difficult. We also need to maintain our lead in the championship, but I am convinced that we are well prepared to face the upcoming challenges. »

Rubens Barrichello – Racing Driver

The Circuit de Catalunya hosts the drivers during pre-season testing. Although the track has somewhat lost its speed over the years, it remains an interesting and physically demanding layout.

« You need to find a good rhythm to tackle the combination of fast corners, particularly the third one which is very fast and demanding, and the slow corners in the final sector. The long straight requires good aerodynamic efficiency and we will be grateful for the power of our Mercedes-Benz engine. The Spanish Grand Prix has always been one of my favorites on the calendar because I feel like it’s here that the season really kicks off. »

Ross Brawn – Team Principal:

The team had to make great efforts to have two cars on the grid for the first race in Melbourne. The success achieved is a well-deserved reward for all our staff for their efforts, including our engine partner Mercedes-Benz. The short break we had since returning from Bahrain allowed the whole team to regroup at the Brackley factory and take the time to reflect on our first four races.

« Jenson [Button], Rubens [Barrichello] and the team gave everything to win this Bahrain Grand Prix. We must maintain this level of performance if we want to stay ahead in the championship. All the staff have worked very hard on the upgrades to the BGP 001 and we look forward to seeing the results of our development work on track in Barcelona. »