Fast pace pushes Button to F1 title

MELBOURNE, Australia – Brawn GP became the first Formula One team in 39 years to take pole position in its debut race when Jenson Button secured front place on the grid for Sunday’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

Button’s time of 1 minute, 26.202 seconds Saturday edged out teammate Rubens Barrichello by three tenths of a second, giving the F1 newcomers both positions on the front row for Sunday’s race.

It was the fourth pole position of Button’s career – his first since the 2006 Australian GP – and completed a remarkable turnaround in fortunes for the England-based team, which was threatened with extinction when former owner Honda pulled out of the sport after the 2008 season.

Before former Ferrari strategist and Honda team principal Ross Brawn took over the team from the Japanese automaker, Button and Barrichello faced the prospect of looking for a new job and watching this weekend’s action on television.

“Going from not having a drive and no future in racing to putting it on pole here is just amazing,” Button said. “This is a great moment, not the most important of the weekend, but a great start.”

“This is where we deserve to be, after the difficult times we have had,” the 29-year-old British driver added. “Roll on the season, I am so excited.”

The Brawn performance may be a welcome taste of novelty for F1 fans, but rival teams were less enthusiastic. The team is racing under appeal, with a protest over the design of its rear diffuser to be heard by FIA after the Malaysian Grand Prix, jeopardizing any points gained in the season’s first two GP races.  (AP)