JENSON BUTTON’S British Grand Prix party this weekend is poised to be gatecrashed by a Red Bull Racing revolution.
In revamped cars, and sporting new front wings dubbed ‘duck breast’, Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber crushed their rivals in practice.
Ordinarily, you should never read too much into Friday’s practice times, as Nico Rosberg has proven this season with his showboating antics in his Williams.
But in this instance, Vettel and Webber were a class apart, leaving Brawn GP boss Ross Brawn appreciating Button’s winning run may come to an end after four in a row and seven from eight races.
‘‘They’re too quick, and I think we’re going to have trouble this weekend,’’ remarked Brawn.
Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner underlined his team’s intention as he said: ‘‘We’re determined to try and stop Jenson Button winning yet another race.
‘‘That is where our focus now immediately turns to. We owe that to the fans, to the public and to Silverstone. This is an important weekend.’’ Vettel was over 0.8 seconds quicker than third fastest Button at the end of the first session, and more than 0.6 seconds ahead of a surprise third best in the second period in Force India’s Adrian Sutil.
Only team-mate Webber was within touching distance of the 21-year-old German come the conclusion of each 90-minute run.
Potentially usurping Button as race favourite, Vettel said: ‘‘It was a good day for both of us.
‘‘The new parts we brought here seem to be working well, which is a good sign, but on a Friday it’s always difficult to know how quick we really are.
‘‘I think we’ve made a step forward though, and just like our team slogan ‘Red Bull Gives You Wings’, I think they helped us today for our performance on track.’’ The only blot on Red Bull’s copybook was that Webber’s second session ended early after he hit a kerb on the Silverstone track, causing the car’s electronics to stop.
D e s p i t e Red Bull’s superiority, Button is still looking forward to his home race in front of what will be a sell-out 100,000 crowd tomorrow, no matter what unfolds.
‘‘I’d obviously like to do really well here with it being my home grand prix, and with it being the last here at Silverstone for a few years – I don’t know how long,’’ said Button, pictured below.
‘‘There’s going to be a big crowd, it’s going to be a fantastic atmosphere, and whatever happens this weekend, I know I will come away still leading the championship.
‘‘I just want to do the best job I can, but also to enjoy the weekend. That’s the most important thing.
‘‘That’s just the best way for me to think going into the race. I’m still not thinking too much long term, which will keep me relaxed and help me enjoy the weekend.
‘‘There’s no pressure on me, other than what I put on myself, and that’s the thing.
‘‘What other people say or do, it doesn’t change me or make any difference to my performance.
‘‘So I’m really looking forward to it.”
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