MONTE CARLO – Jenson Button and the Brawn GP team were still pinching themselves in delight Monday after winning Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix and promising a taste of the high life will not stop them keeping their foot on the pedal.
After five wins in six races, the 29-year-old Briton Button dominates the drivers’ championship, but continued to refuse to consider himself as favourite.
And as he rubbed his eyes after a night of celebrations, his eponymous team boss Ross Brawn reminded anyone who was listening that the Brawn outfit intended to work harder, remain focussed and push on.
After six of this year’s 17 races, Button with 51 points leads Brawn team-mate Brazilian Rubens Barrichello on 35 by 16 points, with German tyro Sebastian Vettel, 21, third for Red Bull on 23 ahead of his team-mate Australian Mark Webber, fourth on 19.5.
In the constructors championship Brawn lead with 86 ahead of Red Bull on 42.5 and Toyota on 26.5. Ferrari are fourth on 17.
The Brawn team’s chief executive Nick Fry said he now hoped rivals like Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren would improve enough to push them hard and begin taking points off one another in the title battle.
Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali confirmed his team’s progress since their worst start to a season in 29 years with Finn Kimi Raikkonen third and Brazilian Felipe Massa fourth behind Button and his Brawn team-mate Rubens Barrichello.
The Turkish Grand Prix in Istanbul on June 7 will give Ferrari an opportunity to prove their improvements work as well on a fast track as the unique Monaco street circuit.
McLaren Mercedes showed improvements that were not reflected in points after Finn Heikki Kovalainen crashed out and defending drivers world champion Briton Lewis Hamilton toiled home 12th after starting at the back of the grid. – Nampa-AFP
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