Barrichello Leads Brawn 1-2 at 2009 Italian Grand Prix
Rubens Barrichello claimed victory at Monza, heading a Brawn GP one-two as Lewis Hamilton crashed out on the final lap and Ferrari salvaged a podium on home soil.
The 2009 Italian Grand Prix, held at the historic Monza circuit on 13 September 2009, delivered a dramatic race with significant implications for both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships. Rubens Barrichello claimed his third career win at Monza, leading a Brawn GP one-two finish ahead of team-mate Jenson Button. The race was marked by a late accident involving Lewis Hamilton, which altered the podium in the closing moments.
Overview of the 2009 Italian Grand Prix at Monza
Race Summary and Key Moments
Starting from pole position, Lewis Hamilton looked set to finish on the podium until a crash at the first Lesmo corner on the final lap ended his race. This incident allowed Ferrari’s Kimi Räikkönen to secure third place at his team’s home Grand Prix, much to the delight of the Italian fans. Barrichello and Button, starting from fifth and sixth on the grid respectively, capitalised on a strong two-stop strategy and consistent pace to secure the top two positions for Brawn GP.
Adrian Sutil delivered an impressive performance for Force India, finishing fourth and achieving his best result of the season. Sutil also set the fastest lap of the race and challenged Räikkönen for the final podium spot, but ultimately finished just behind the Ferrari driver. Fernando Alonso crossed the line in fifth for Renault, while Heikki Kovalainen brought his McLaren home in sixth after starting from fourth on the grid.
Points Finishers and Standings Impact
Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber) and Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull-Renault) completed the points-paying positions in seventh and eighth. Button’s second-place finish extended his lead over Barrichello in the drivers’ standings to 14 points, with only four races remaining in the season. Brawn GP’s double podium further strengthened its advantage in the constructors’ championship, moving further ahead of Red Bull Racing.
Race Incidents and Retirements
The race featured several notable incidents and retirements. Mark Webber’s race ended on the opening lap after he was involved in contact at the first chicane, forcing him out of the event. Vitantonio Liuzzi, who had been running in the points for Force India, suffered a mechanical failure after 22 laps and was forced to retire. Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber) and Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso) also failed to finish the race. Hamilton’s late crash was the most dramatic moment, as it denied McLaren a podium and allowed Ferrari to celebrate a third-place finish at home.
Full Race Classification
| Pos | Driver | Team | Laps | Time/Retired | Grid | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rubens Barrichello | Brawn-Mercedes | 53 | Winner | 5 | 10 |
| 2 | Jenson Button | Brawn-Mercedes | 53 | +2.8 secs | 6 | 8 |
| 3 | Kimi Räikkönen | Ferrari | 53 | +30.6 secs | 3 | 6 |
| 4 | Adrian Sutil | Force India-Mercedes | 53 | +31.1 secs | 2 | 5 |
| 5 | Fernando Alonso | Renault | 53 | +59.1 secs | 8 | 4 |
| 6 | Heikki Kovalainen | McLaren-Mercedes | 53 | +60.6 secs | 4 | 3 |
| 7 | Nick Heidfeld | BMW Sauber | 53 | +82.4 secs | 15 | 2 |
| 8 | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull-Renault | 53 | +85.4 secs | 9 | 1 |
| 9 | Giancarlo Fisichella | Ferrari | 53 | +86.8 secs | 14 | |
| 10 | Kazuki Nakajima | Williams-Toyota | 53 | 17 | ||
| 11 | Timo Glock | Toyota | 53 | 16 | ||
| 12 | Lewis Hamilton | McLaren-Mercedes | 52 | Accident | 1 | |
| 13 | Sebastien Buemi | STR-Ferrari | 52 | +1 Lap | 19 | |
| 14 | Jarno Trulli | Toyota | 52 | +1 Lap | 11 | |
| 15 | Romain Grosjean | Renault | 52 | +1 Lap | 12 | |
| 16 | Nico Rosberg | Williams-Toyota | 51 | +2 Laps | 18 | |
| Ret | Vitantonio Liuzzi | Force India-Mercedes | 22 | +31 Laps | 7 | |
| Ret | Jaime Alguersuari | STR-Ferrari | 19 | +34 Laps | 20 | |
| Ret | Robert Kubica | BMW Sauber | 15 | +38 Laps | 13 | |
| Ret | Mark Webber | Red Bull-Renault | 0 | Accident | 10 |
Consequences for the Championships
With only four races left in the 2009 season, Brawn GP’s dominant result at Monza placed them in a commanding position in both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships. Button’s consistent scoring and Barrichello’s victory increased the pressure on Red Bull and other rivals. For Ferrari, Räikkönen’s podium provided some consolation at their home event during a challenging season. Force India’s strong performance with Sutil confirmed their late-season progress, although Liuzzi’s retirement prevented a double points finish for the team.
The 2009 Italian Grand Prix at Monza remains memorable for its late drama and the significant impact it had on the championship battles. The result kept Brawn GP in a strong position as the season approached its final stages.
