Bahrain Grand Prix: Another disappointment for Williams

With the Williams cars lining up grid ninth and twelfth for the fifty seven lap 2009 Bahrain Grand Prix, Nico Rosberg was ahead of team-mate Kazuki Nakajima. Based on their cars weights it was estimated that Nico would make his first stop on or around lap twenty two and Kazuki lap twenty six. This would see both drivers on a two stop strategy. On the grid Nico is surrounded by KERS cars, Ferrari's and a McLaren, so the run to the first corner may be a battle for the Williams driver.

The cars would move away from the grid on their parade lap with the Toyota's leading, Trulli on pole. Vettel was third followed by Button, Hamilton, Barrichello, Alonso, Massa, and then the first of the Williams cars with Nico. The drivers had the medium and super soft tyre for the race. Both Toyota's were on the softer tyre. They were joined by Vettel and Button. Most of the field was on the super soft tyre. It was reported that the Brawns continued to have problems with their cooling.

The grid would from up and the lights would go out and it would be with Glock pulling ahead in the lead to Turn one. Hamilton was third with Button following. Nico was down in tenth. Hamilton had tried top pass Trulli but ran wide and was repassed by Trulli. Kazuki was down in sixteenth after a poor start in which he made contact with another car. Button would pass Hamilton going into Turn one for the start of lap two. Vettel was fifth followed by Barrichello and Raikkonen. A 1m:34.922 from Glock to see him fastest. Kubica and Kazuki would pit on lap three. Kazuki and Kubica would both have new noses fitted. Despite making a good start Nico was passed by the KERS cars. Massa would pit on lap four to sort out damage to his front nose. Heidfeld was also in. Nico was now ninth as Glock went faster with a 1m:34.761.

Kazuki was running last as Glock lead by 1.6 seconds over Trulli. Lap five and Trulli was now fastest with a 1m:34.710. Webber was up to eleventh and looking to pass Piquet. Button was in a lonely third as Hamilton fell back from the Brawn car. Trulli was again faster with a 1m:34.572 on lap six. Button was now 5.3 seconds behind the leader but Glock was expected to stop on lap eleven. Kazuki had passed Heidfeld for nineteenth. Nico was 1.7 seconds behind Alonso in eighth. Lap nine and Trulli was 2.0 seconds behind Glock as the Toyota's improved on their pace to move away from Button. A fastest lap from Trulli on lap two, 1m:34.556, as Vettel started to drop away from Hamilton. Glock would pit on lap eleven.

Vettel was been challenged by Barrichello as Glock came back out running with Nico. Nico was able to keep in front of Glock as Trulli pitted on lap twelve. Both Toyota's had taken on the harder tyre. Button was now in the lead and was told to push. Trulli was running ahead of Alonso and Nico. Hamilton was second followed by Vettel, Barrichello, Raikkonen and Trulli. Using his KERS Alonso was able to pass Trulli for sixth. Barrichello would pit on lap fifteen. He would continue with the super soft tyre. Webber would also pit with Barrichello now in tenth. Nico was running close behind Trulli as Button pitted on lap sixteen. Hamilton was also in with Button taking the super soft's as did Hamilton. Eleventh placed Fisichella would also pit. Alonso would pit on lap seventeen continuing on the softer tyre.

Barrichello was attacking ninth placed Piquet who had yet to pit. Nico was now in fifth 1.1 seconds behind fourth placed Trulli. Vettel was leading from Raikkonen with neither driver having pitted. A personal best from Nico on lap eighteen. Thirteenth placed Bourdais would pit on lap nineteen. Vettel would pit on lap twenty taking on the super soft tyre. Vettel would return behind Trulli but in front on Nico. Nico was expected to stop in two laps as Barrichello passed Glock for seventh. Vettel was right behind Trulli as Raikkonen led the race. Lap twenty two and Raikkonen would pit from the lead. Nico was also in for his first stop and would return in tenth. Button was leading from Trulli by 7.5 seconds. Vettel was third followed by Hamilton, Barrichello, Glock, Piquet and Raikkonen. Fifth placed Barrichello was pushing hard as Trulli seemed to be struggling with the medium tyre.

Nico was in ninth and Kazuki a distant nineteenth. Barrichello would pit on lap twenty seven. He would come back out just in front of Nico. Rubens would take on the softer tyre meaning that he will have to stop again to take on the medium tyre. Lap twenty seven and Button's lead was out to 11.1 seconds over Trulli. Vettel was third followed by Hamilton and Glock. Fourteenth placed Massa would pit on lap thirty. Button's lead was now 13.3 seconds over Trulli. Kazuki would pit on lap thirty two taking on super soft tyres. Despite a personal best from Nico he was 4.0 seconds behind Barrichello. Seventh placed Glock would pit on lap thirty four, returning to the super soft tyres. He would come back out in tenth. Button was closing up to lap Massa.

Lap thirty five and Button was leading by 16.1 seconds over Trulli. Nico was running in eighth 6.5 seconds behind Barrichello. Button would pit on lap thirty eight, joined by Trulli and Hamilton. Button was on the medium tyres on his return. It would be the same for Hamilton. Trulli would take on the super soft tyre. Alonso would pit from seventh. Vettel was now leading from Button, Raikkonen, Trulli, Barrichello, Hamilton, and Nico in seventh. Kazuki was now eighteenth. Vettel would pit on lap forty one taking on the harder tyre. Vettel would come out in front of Trulli in third. Button was again leading with Raikkonen now second. Trulli was now fourth followed by Barrichello, Hamilton, Nico, and Piquet in eighth. Piquet would pit on lap forty three. Raikkonen would pit from second on lap forty five, taking on the harder tyre. He would come out next to Glock and was able to get past the Toyota a few corners later.

Nico would make his second stop on lap forty six. He would drop from sixth to ninth. Eleventh placed Massa would pit on lap forty seven. Button was now leading from Vettel by 12.9 seconds. Fourth placed Barrichello would pit on
lap forty eight taking on the medium tyre. With a short stop he was able to get out in front of Raikkonen and Glock. Nico was right behind eighth placed Alonso. With eight laps remaining Button was a comfortable leading been 12.6 seconds over Vettel, Trulli, Hamilton, Barrichello, Raikkonen, Glock, and Alonso. Kazuki would pit to retire on lap fifty. Nico would drop away from Alonso as the final six laps started. Trulli was closing in onto Vettel but it looked unlikely that he would be able to get close enough to pass the Red Bull.

It was reported that Kazuki had retired with falling oil pressure. Nico was now 2.2 seconds behind Alonso as Button started his penultimate lap. He would ease off and as he started the final lap he was 7.8 seconds ahead of Vettel. Button would complete his last lap and cross the line to take victory in the 2009 Bahrain Grand Prix. This would make it three wins out of four for the Brawn GP team. Vettel was second from Trulli, Hamilton, Barrichello, Raikkonen, Glock, and Alonso. Nico would come home ninth in what was a race where the Williams team failed to secure any points in what was another disappointing race for the team. After an encouraging start to the season the Williams team is really going backwards.

Pos  Driver  	   Team		  	      Time
 1.  Button        Brawn GP-Mercedes     (B)  1h31:48.182
 2.  Vettel        Red Bull-Renault      (B)  +     7.187
 3.  Trulli        Toyota                (B)  +     9.170
 4.  Hamilton      Ferrari               (B)  +    22.096
 5.  Barrichello   Brawn GP-Mercedes     (B)  +    37.779
 6.  Raikkonen     McLaren-Mercedes      (B)  +    42.057
 7.  Glock         Toyota                (B)  +    42.880
 8.  Alonso        Renault               (B)  +    52.775
 9.  Rosberg       AT&T Williams-Toyota  (B)  +    58.198
10.  Piquet        Renault               (B)  +  1:05.149
11.  Webber        Red Bull-Renault      (B)  +  1:07.641
12.  Kovalainen    Ferrari               (B)  +  1:17.824
13.  Bourdais      Toro Rosso-Ferrari    (B)  +  1:18.805
14.  Massa         McLaren-Mercedes      (B)  +     1 lap
15.  Fisichella    Force India-Mercedes  (B)  +     1 lap
16.  Sutil         Force India-Mercedes  (B)  +     1 lap
17.  Buemi         Toro Rosso-Ferrari    (B)  +     1 lap
18.  Kubica        BMW Sauber            (B)  +     1 lap
19.  Heidfeld      BMW Sauber            (B)  +     1 lap

Fastest lap: Trulli, 1:34.556

Not classified/retirements:
Driver        Team                      On lap
Nakajima      AT&T Williams-Toyota       (B)    49