F1: Chinese GP Stat Wrap

Formula 1

F1: Chinese GP Stat Wrap

Sean Kelly analyzes the Chinese Grand Prix by numbers, and sees how Sebastian Vettel created history with his triumph on Sunday.

Sean Kelly | Posted April 19, 2009 Charlotte, NC

Vettel is now in some illustrious company after winning for Toro Rosso and Red Bull (LAT)

Stewart took maiden wins for Matra, March and Tyrrell (LAT)

An imperious drive from Sebastian Vettel saw Red Bull clinch their first ever victory as a constructor, with Mark Webber backing up the German to seal a 1-2 for the team.

Vettel now joins illustrious company, becoming the first man since Sir Jackie Stewart to take the maiden wins for more than one constructor. Stewart took three maiden wins in total, for Matra (1968), March (1970), Tyrrell (1971).

He also, temporarily at least, joins Jean-Pierre Jabouille as the only drivers to have more than one podium finish, but both were race victories. Ironically both of Jabouille’s wins came for Renault, the engine that powered Vettel to victory on Sunday.

Mark Webber’s second place meant that Red Bull join Alfa Romeo, Mercedes, Jordan, BMW and Brawn GP in taking a 1-2 finish on the occasion of their maiden victory.

Who said F1 was predictable? Throw in Vettel’s Toro Rosso win at Monza last year, and we have now had four different constructors take their first ever victories in less than two seasons. That sort of variation has not been seen since 1976/77, when Penske, Ligier, Wolf and Shadow all made the breakthrough.

Finally on the subject, none of the races this season have been won by a team that had any previous victories before 2009.

Webber’s second place was a career best finish, lost in the hyperbole surrounding Vettel. In 123 previous starts, the Australian never bettered third place, at the 2005 Monaco Grand Prix and 2007 European Grand Prix.

Red Bull had never taken a pole position prior to Vettel on Saturday, as he led the first Renault-engined 1-2-3 in qualifying since Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve and Jean Alesi did so at the 1996 Portugese Grand Prix for Williams and Benetton.

In third place was Brawn GP’s Jenson Button, strengthening his championship advantage to six points over teammate Rubens Barrichello, who finished one place behind him. Barrichello had the satisfaction of outqualifying his teammate for the first time in 2009, despite having more fuel on board.

The weekend brought up an anniversary for Rubens, as Friday marked 15 years to the day since he took his maiden podium finish in F1 for the Jordan-Hart team, and he is nearing Riccardo Patrese’s record for longer period between first and last career podium finishes. Patrese, coincidentally, celebrated his 55th birthday on Friday.

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Sean Kelly

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