2009 F1 Season Staggers To An End

The 2009 F1 season started with such a bang. Unfortunately, the momentum simply could not be sustained. As we enter the last few races of the season, the performances have fallen off and the key players are staggering to a finish that is almost laughable.

2009 was a season of new beginnings in Formula One. New rules were in place to cut costs and make the cars easier to pass. All and all, it has more or less been a success. This is particularly true since the big boys, McLaren and Ferrari, got a late start on their new cars while trying to win the 2008 championships. To the shock of everyone Brawn GP and Red Bull became the top two teams. Both built large point leads, fortunately so. The teams have fallen apart as the season has progressed and we are now left with a championship that will be won by the less weakest. Let's take a look.

Jenson Button

Ah, how the might have fallen. The talented, but iffy Button seemed to have come into his own. He won six of the first seven races in the blazing fast Brawn. Since then, however, he has a second place finish and nothing else higher than a fifth position. His teammate regularly out qualifies and out scores him. Button will probably win the championship because the season is running out, but it will be with a huge whimper.

Rubens Barrichello

The erstwhile Brazilian more or less acted like a rookie much of the first half of the season by banging into everyone and everything he could. He regrets it now. After throwing away so many points, he has come into form in the second half of the season and dominated his teammate. The only problem is he is running out of races to catch him. With a reported move to the weak Williams Team next year, this was the crafty old vets one real chance to win a championship. It is too bad it probably will not happen.

Mark Webber

The veteran Red Bull driver finally was given a car that could win a championship. He looked strong early on and even picked up his first win in Germany. As a veteran, one expected him to take off from there. Ummm...not exactly. He scored a shocking zero points in the four races ranging form the European Grand Prix to Singapore. That is hardly closing the season like a champion!

Sebastian Vettel

Of the four "top" drivers, Vettel is clearly the most talented and primed for future championship success. Alas, he still makes rookie errors and there is some belief he overdrives his car. Regardless, the mighty might has run afoul of the Formula One rules on total engines to be used in a season. Should he need another engine, he will be docked on the starting grid. For all intensive purposes, this means his season is over. Look for serious future success.

The 2009 Formula One season will stagger to a close in another month. Brawn GP will grab the constructors' championship and it says here that Barrichello will overtake Button to win the drivers' trophy. Then again, maybe not!

Dirk Gibson is with DCJAutoParts.com - where you can find high performance auto parts for your car or truck at low, low prices.