Vettel Takes Pole at Silverstone as Button Misses Out on Front Row
Sebastian Vettel led a Red Bull charge in 2009 Silverstone qualifying, securing pole ahead of Rubens Barrichello, while local favourite Jenson Button settled for sixth.
Sebastian Vettel delivered a commanding performance in qualifying for the 2009 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, securing pole position for Red Bull with a time of 1m 19.509s. Team-mate Mark Webber joined him near the front, but it was Rubens Barrichello in the Brawn-Mercedes who split the Red Bulls to take second place on the grid. Championship leader Jenson Button, racing in front of his home crowd, could manage only sixth fastest in his Brawn-Mercedes. Button's best effort left him behind both Red Bulls, Barrichello, Toyota's Jarno Trulli, and Williams driver Kazuki Nakajima.
Overview of Silverstone 2009 Qualifying
Button's British rival Lewis Hamilton had an even tougher session, qualifying 19th after struggling with the McLaren-Mercedes. McLaren’s difficulties continued with Heikki Kovalainen also failing to reach Q3. Force India and Toro Rosso occupied the lower grid slots, with Giancarlo Fisichella 16th and Sebastien Buemi last in 20th.
Top 10 Qualifiers at Silverstone 2009
| Position | Driver | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull-Renault | 1m 19.509s |
| 2 | Rubens Barrichello | Brawn-Mercedes | 1m 19.856s |
| 3 | Mark Webber | Red Bull-Renault | 1m 19.868s |
| 4 | Jarno Trulli | Toyota-Toyota | 1m 20.091s |
| 5 | Kazuki Nakajima | Williams-Toyota | 1m 20.216s |
| 6 | Jenson Button | Brawn-Mercedes | 1m 20.289s |
| 7 | Nico Rosberg | Williams-Toyota | 1m 20.361s |
| 8 | Timo Glock | Toyota-Toyota | 1m 20.490s |
| 9 | Kimi Raikkonen | Ferrari-Ferrari | 1m 20.715s |
| 10 | Fernando Alonso | Renault-Renault | 1m 20.741s |
Qualifying Results: Full Grid
| Position | Driver | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Felipe Massa | Ferrari-Ferrari | 1m 18.927s |
| 12 | Robert Kubica | BMW Sauber | 1m 19.308s |
| 13 | Heikki Kovalainen | McLaren-Mercedes | 1m 19.353s |
| 14 | Nelson Piquet Jr | Renault-Renault | 1m 19.392s |
| 15 | Nick Heidfeld | BMW Sauber | 1m 19.448s |
| 16 | Giancarlo Fisichella | Force India-Mercedes | 1m 19.802s |
| 17 | Sebastien Bourdais | Toro Rosso-Ferrari | 1m 19.898s |
| 18 | Adrian Sutil | Force India-Mercedes | 1m 19.909s |
| 19 | Lewis Hamilton | McLaren-Mercedes | 1m 19.917s |
| 20 | Sebastien Buemi | Toro Rosso-Ferrari | 1m 20.236s |
Red Bull’s Advantage and British Hopes
Vettel’s pole was his second in succession, underlining Red Bull’s progress as the season developed. The team’s pace at Silverstone put pressure on Brawn GP, who had dominated earlier rounds but now faced a direct challenge. Barrichello’s front-row start kept Brawn in contention, but Button’s sixth place left him with work to do in the race. Red Bull locked out first and third on the grid, while Brawn GP’s Barrichello split the Red Bulls for second.
Jenson Button’s grid position was a disappointment for the local fans, as he started behind both Red Bulls as well as Trulli and Nakajima. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton’s struggles continued, with the defending world champion starting from the penultimate row. The British duo faced a challenging task to fight through the field on race day.
Key Lap Time Differences
- Sebastian Vettel’s 1m 19.509s lap was over three tenths quicker than Barrichello’s best, highlighting Red Bull’s single-lap speed at Silverstone.
- The gap between first and tenth on the grid was just over a second, showing a closely contested qualifying session.
- Lewis Hamilton’s time in 19th was over four tenths slower than the slowest Q2 time, underlining McLaren’s difficulties.
Impact on the Championship and Race Outlook
With Vettel on pole and both Red Bulls showing strong pace, the team looked set to challenge Brawn GP’s early-season dominance. Barrichello’s front-row start kept Brawn in contention for valuable points, but Button’s sixth place meant he would need a strong race to maintain his championship lead. The qualifying results set the stage for a competitive race, with the potential for shifts in the championship standings depending on how the British Grand Prix unfolded.
The 2009 Silverstone qualifying session highlighted the changing dynamics of the season, as Red Bull emerged as a serious threat to Brawn GP and the established order. With British hopes resting on Button and Hamilton, both drivers faced an uphill battle to deliver a home victory.
