Brawn GP’s sweep of the 2009 Formulation 1 Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships throughout its solely season of competitors stays one of the vital sensational tales in racing historical past. One of many automobiles from that historic season is heading to public sale.
Set to be a characteristic lot at a Bonhams public sale taking place Could 3, throughout F1’s 2025 Miami Grand Prix weekend, Brawn GP Chassis 001/01 is considered one of simply three full automobiles constructed by the group. It is the primary time a Brawn GP 001 has been supplied on the market, based on the public sale home.
2009 Brawn GP Chassis 001/01 (picture by way of Bonhams)
Brawn GP is the final word F1 underdog story. After a profitable stint at Ferrari throughout the Michael Schumacher period, Ross Brawn was introduced in as technical director of the Honda manufacturing facility group to engineer what was hoped to be an analogous turnaround. With main rule adjustments coming for 2009, Brawn opted to sacrifice the group’s 2008 effort and give attention to a brand new automotive designed round these rule adjustments.
However following the 2008 monetary recession, Honda pulled out of F1. Brawn and CEO Nick Fry took over the group and secured Mercedes engines for its nearly-completed chassis, which might race because the BGP 001. Brawn’s technique labored out, because the automotive was the category of the sphere in early races, helped partially by a double diffuser additionally utilized by Williams and Toyota, however later protested by the larger groups, all of which had missed this downforce-generating trick.
Jenson Button and Rubens Barichello completed 1-2 within the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, the primary of six wins for Button that season. However wins and podiums dried up later within the season as different groups—notably Pink Bull—continued to develop their automobiles, one thing Brawn could not afford to do on its shoestring finances.
2009 Brawn GP Chassis 001/01 (picture by way of Bonhams)
Nonetheless, Button was in a position to safe the Drivers’ Championship on the penultimate race in Brazil, a outcome that additionally netted the Constructors’ Championship for Brawn. The group was then purchased by its engine provider, morphing into the Mercedes manufacturing facility group for the 2010 season and happening to win a string of seven Drivers’ and eight Constructors’ championships throughout F1’s hybrid period.
The automotive up for public sale was pushed to 4 podiums and 9 top-10 finishes by Barichello. It was then given to Button on the finish of the season to fulfill a clause within the Brit’s contract. It is remained in Button’s assortment till now. The opposite two chassis stay with Brawn and Mercedes.