Australian Grand Prix 2009 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Jenson Button announced the arrival of Formula 1's greatest underdog story with a stunning victory on debut for Brawn GP at the Australian Grand Prix, leading teammate Rubens Barrichello home for a sensational one-two finish that shocked the paddock. The team that had nearly ceased to exist just months earlier dominated the season opener at Melbourne's Albert Park, with Button controlling the race from pole position in a performance that launched one of the sport's most remarkable championship campaigns.

Button's pole position lap of 1:26.202 had already sent shockwaves through the F1 world, proving that Brawn's double-diffuser concept provided a massive aerodynamic advantage under the sport's radical new regulations. Starting from the front, Button made a perfect getaway and immediately pulled away from the field, the white-and-fluorescent yellow Brawn BGP 001 looking planted and fast through Albert Park's challenging corners. Barrichello provided the ideal support in second place, with the Brazilian equally impressive in demonstrating that Brawn's pace was no fluke. The sight of two Brawns cruising at the front - a team that had been saved from extinction by Ross Brawn's management buyout of Honda - captured imaginations worldwide.

Jarno Trulli secured third place for Toyota, another team benefiting from the double-diffuser interpretation that Brawn, Toyota, and Williams had developed. Lewis Hamilton endured a nightmare race, finishing fourth for McLaren in a car that was clearly off the pace, while reigning champion and pre-season favorite found his title defense in immediate crisis. Sebastian Vettel could only manage fourth for Red Bull after qualifying second, with the Milton Keynes team and Ferrari among those caught out by the diffuser controversy. Button's victory - his first since Hungary 2006 after 39 winless races - marked an emotional moment for a driver who had remained loyal to Honda through years of struggle. The win announced that 2009 would be a season unlike any other, with the establishment giants humbled by a team operating on a fraction of their budgets and the fairy tale of Brawn GP only just beginning.