Ahead of the Australian Grand Prix, which will kick off the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship, we look back at a race that will forever remain in the history books: the 2009 season-opener.
Brawn GP’s story
On December, 4 2008; Honda formally announced retirement from Formula 1 for the upcoming championship and the consequent sale of the team, due to the economic crisis.
After about 4 months, on March 6, 2009 precisely, the brand-new Brawn GP was formed; after the former team principal of the Japanese team, Ross Brawn, paid exactly 1£ to keep the organization alive.
The car was supported by a Mercedes engine and was driven by former Honda experienced drivers, Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello.
On March 29, 2009; Brawn GP officially debuted in Formula 1 with an unexpected (and quite frankly unhoped-for) result: a 1-2, with Button taking home the winner’s trophy ahead of Barrichello.
Unbelievably, the BGP 001 proved to be dominant, thanks to the innovative – and much contested by the competitors, who considered it irregular – aerodynamic solution of the double diffuser, never banned by the FIA.
At the end of the year, the team that was kept alive by £1 won both World Championships, against all reasonable odds.
From 2010 onwards, Brawn GP ceased to exist in favour of Mercedes, which returned to Formula 1, together with Michael Schumacher, after more than 50 years. The rest is history.
8 thoughts on “When Brawn GP shocked the world with a miracle: 2009 Australian Grand Prix”