Barrichello returns to success in Valencia

It took five years to see him return to the top of the podium. This Sunday, after 57 laps of the Valencia urban track, Rubens Barrichello (Brawn GP) once again crossed the finish line as winner. This hasn't happened since the 2004 Chinese Grand Prix, which is an eternity. At the time he was already teaming up with Ross Brawn but it was within the Team Ferrari.

Today, on the podium of the European Grand Prix, the Brazilian was a pleasure to see. Happy, smiling, a little emotional too, there was emotion on the Valencia side. The Brazilian obviously dedicated the victory to his friend Felipe Massa, convalescing after his accident at the Hungarian GP.

This victory, the tenth of his career, Barrichello went for it. Started from the second row behind the two McLaren, the Brawn GP driver carried out his work in two stages. He first passed Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren) during the first refueling salvo before doing the same with Lewis Hamilton 17 laps from the finish. The same story every time. The Brazilian delays his refueling as much as possible by lining up the qualifying rounds while his opponents have already observed theirs. On Lewis Hamilton's second stop, McLaren is also not exempt from all blame after having messed up over a tire issue and holding the Briton back for longer than necessary.

This success also allows his Brawn GP team to perform excellently in the Manufacturers' Championship. By scoring 12 points? the 10 points for victory as well as the two awarded for Button's seventh place? Brawn GP thus regains some air since at the same time, Red Bull does not enter the slightest unit.

Indeed, a probable engine failure for Sebastian Vettel ? the second of the weekend? ? as well as a ninth place achieved by Mark Webber made the task of the Milton Keynes team difficult in their quest for the world title. Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari), by finishing third, for his part, perfectly fulfilled the task entrusted to him by his team, namely to consolidate third place in the Manufacturers' championship.

Behind, Kovalainen took fourth place ahead of Nico Rosberg (Williams) who continues to string together successful performances. Fernando Alonso (Renault), Jenson Button (Brawn GP) and Robert Kubica (BMW) complete the top 8. After Turkey, the Pole enters the points for the second time this season. Finally, for his first Grand Prix, Romain Grosjean (Renault) finished in fifteenth place ahead of Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso) and Luca Badoer (Ferrari).