Formula One news

Brawn speed enough, says Brundle

Martin Brundle was pleased to see Jenson Button's success in Sunday's opening race of the season, but is thankful that the Brawn BGP 001 car did not totally dominate the Grand Prix. The team has come under fire from competitiors this year due to its sporting of a radical diffuser, which can yield an estimated half a second per lap at some circuits.

Brundle (right) in Australia with David Coulthard Toro Rosso's Sébastien Bourdais

"The Brawn is definitely a strong car," Brundle said, having commentated on the race for the BBC for the first time. "Barrichello did his best to shovel others off the track in Melbourne but, extraordinarily, the front wing and front suspension absorbed it all. They have some nice aerodynamic tweaks and tricks underneath the car, as well as their controversial double diffuser."

Brundle, who raced in Formula One from 1984 to 1996 was pleased, however, that the race wasn't a Brawn whitewash. "The worst thing that could have happened in Australia was for the Brawn to clear off into the distance and wipe the floor with the rest of the field," he continued. "Then, fingers would have been pointed again at the diffuser and the appeal hearing could well have been swung by an inclination to slow down the Brawns. Having said all that, Button is very smooth behind the wheel and has a very elegant driving style, almost as if he is turning the steering wheel through treacle."

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