Red Bull too quick for Brawn in China

Brawn GP's amazing run of success ended in China today when Formula One championship leader Jenson Button was left trailing in the wake of the runaway Red Bulls.

The Briton won the first two races of the season from pole position in Australia and Malaysia but there was to be no hat-trick in Shanghai for the team formed from the remains of departed Honda.

Germany's Sebastian Vettel led from pole to take Red Bull's first win with Australian Mark Webber anchoring the one-two finish.

Button, 29, said he had done the best he could in the circumstances. Starting fifth behind the safety car, he passed team mate Rubens Barrichello for third on lap 11 after the Brazilian ran wide and Renault's Fernando Alonso pitted.

"It was a difficult race and every lap you thought you were going to throw the car off," said Button of an afternoon that gave hope to those teams not yet armed with the controversial rear diffuser that has been Brawn's big weapon.

"So to finish the race is an achievement and to come home on the podium is great," he added.

"We couldn't challenge these two guys today, they were immensely quick. But it's great to get six points on the board."

Button's 18th podium finish of his career extended his lead in the title race to six points over Barrichello, who finished fourth.

The 36-year-old Brazilian, who won the inaugural race in Shanghai for Ferrari in 2004, set the fastest lap late in the race but it was too late to make up for the brake problems he suffered earlier in the day.

"I had only three brake discs working on my car for the first 19 laps which made it even more difficult for me to keep my car on the road," said the most experienced Formula One driver of all time.

"However, we got the car to the end of the race in difficult circumstances and I scored as many points as I could have done, so we have to be happy with that."

Team boss Ross Brawn was already thinking about the next race in Bahrain, where there is unlikely to be a repeat of the rain which cut short the race in Malaysia and made today such a difficult day.

"Another dramatic race today to continue what is turning out to be a very exciting Formula One season," he said.

"Congratulations to Red Bull for their one-two performance today. We know from Australia what a fantastic feeling that achievement is and I'm sure they will enjoy every minute of it.

"Our focus now turns to Bahrain next weekend for what hopefully will be a dry race."