Jenson Button is blowing away the competition. Having won five of the six races this season all one can wonder is did he take the day off in China? For, outside of a third place finish in China, Button has had to wash champagne off of his driving togs after every outing.

Button represents Braun GP-Mercedes and is doing it in style. His lead over his team mate Rubens Barrichello is 16 points. Since Barrichello sits in second on the overall board, that leaves both Button and Braun GP with a substantial advantage over the field at large. At a time when other teams are scrambling to find answers to why they are being left in the dust, Button, Barrichello and Braun are synchronizing in a manner as finely tuned as their Mercedes Benz engines.

As McLaren, Red Bull and Ferrari all modify their cars, Braun and their successful drivers are looking ahead to the Turkish Gran Prix in Istanbul. Last weekend they finished one and two in Monaco with Barrichello trailing by only 7.6 seconds. In fact, the only thing standing in the way of Ruben Barrichellos is Jenson Button. If they weren’t team mates, Barrichello would probably find the Brit frequenting his dreams. However, there has been some controversy as Barrichellos felt he had the Spanish Grand Prix nailed down until his crew ordered him to make a pit stop while allowing Button to go for the chequered flag. As Button celebrated that victory Barrichello was heard to openly question why he was required to stop and surrender first place to his stable mate. Three times this season Barrichello has finished second to Button’s first place and in China he finished fourth to Button’s third. One of the rarest sights for Barrichello this season has been seeing Jenson Button in his rearview mirror.

The remarkable thing about their success is the fact that they almost didn’t have a team. Ross Braun bought the team from Honda and equipped it with Mercedes engines. With the deal not being finalized until March it seemed inconceivable that Braun GP would be ruling the roost this early, but they would have to slump mightily to surrender their lead position.

While Braun put up the money to secure the team, Button lost money to pilot the vehicle. It is being estimated that he is making 50% less money this season to race for Braun. While some feel the 29 year old is lucky to be on the grid, there is no question that he is the main thrust behind the teams up swing. The level of success achieved by the entire team speaks volumes of their dedication, skill and professionalism. Initially, Braun had warned of the danger that the team would not have adequate time to prepare. Instead, they are functioning as a seasoned unit whose familiarity is second nature. The young season is still unfolding but Braun GP has already secured a position in the upper echelon and shows no signs of being dislodged. 
 

Photo Credit: Frederic Le Floc / DPPI / Icon SMI