Button Steals the Limelight
The weather conditions for the Canadian Grand Prix were anything less than ideal for the race, which took place on Sunday, 12 June 2011. The rain and eventual downpour led to the race being suspended for two hours, as well as a few nerve wrecking collisions, slides and loss of control for a number of drivers. And even though Vettel took pole position at the Canadian Grand Prix and led all the way, it was the last lap of the race that took an unexpected turn, as Jenson Button pulled of a dramatic pass and won the event, with Vettel taking second position.
The weather conditions for the Canadian Grand Prix were anything less than ideal for the race, which took place on Sunday, 12 June 2011. The rain and eventual downpour led to the race being suspended for two hours, as well as a few nerve wrecking collisions, slides and loss of control for a number of drivers. And even though Vettel took pole position at the Canadian Grand Prix and led all the way, it was the last lap of the race that took an unexpected turn, as Jenson Button pulled of a dramatic pass and won the event, with Vettel taking second position.
This is Jenson Button’s first victory this season, and brings his career victories to ten. Vettel has now lost two of the seven events for the Grand Prix season, and Button is now positioned second in the champions’ log. Mark Webber, Vettel’s teammate, was able to secure third position, with Michael Schumacher in fourth, followed by Vitaly Petrov, Felippe Massa and Kamui Koyayashi. Fernando Alsonso’s race was cut short through a tussle with Button which left him on the curb. Lewis Hamilton again provided spectators with heart stopping moments as he first had a minor collision with Mark Webber, which was followed by a near miss with Schumacher, but unfortunately led to teammate Jenson Button not seeing Hamilton in his mirrors, and the two collided, sending Hamilton into the pit wall and leaving him with extensive damage to his rear wheel, ending his race. The race was also filled with numerous pit stops and after Koboayashi was run into by Heidfeld, the safety car once again made its appearance. But once the race was on again, Button began chasing down Vettel, and in a memorable moment was able to pass Vettel, holding on to first position to win the 2011 Canadian Grand Prix.
Vettel commented that he did go wide, giving Button the space he needed to pass, and admitted that he had lost the race due to a mistake that he made, and that he was not completely happy with his own performance. Button on the other hand is extremely proud of his victory, and commented that he had enjoyed every part of the race. The chase, and working through the field was challenging, but he enjoyed every minute, and winning the Canadian Grand Prix was the crowning moment for the 2009 champion.