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Following [[Honda]]'s withdrawal, development of the BGP 001 car never stopped and on the day of its debut, [[Jenson Button]] performed its shakedown &ndash; the car featuring white, fluorescent [[chartreuse (color)|chartreuse yellow]] and black colours.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=autosport.com|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73588|title=Brawn targets 'respectable' performance|date=2009-03-06}}</ref> The team gave the BGP 001 its first test at [[Circuit de Catalunya]] on 9 March 2009, topping the timesheets many times.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=f1-live.com|url=http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/090312173446_1.shtml|title=Barrichello keeps Brawn on top! |date=2009-03-12}}</ref> With the testing moving to [[Circuito de Jerez]], Brawn GP continued to set the pace, finishing the test leading two of the three tests.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brawngp.com/pdf/jer15_03web_3.pdf |format=PDF|title=Jenson back on top |publisher=Brawn GP |date=2009-03-18 |accessdate=2009-03-18}}</ref> During an interview Brawn said there was more speed to come after he explained that '...The BGP 001 car is the result of 15 months of intensive development work and the team have been nothing less than fantastic in their commitment to producing two cars in time for the first race'.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=ITV-F1.com |url=http://www.itv-f1.com/news_article.aspx?id=45302 |title=Brawn says more speed to come |date=2009-03-21 | accessdate=2009-03-21 }}</ref> At the [[2009 Australian Grand Prix|first race]] an official complaint was launched by four teams against the rear [[diffuser (automotive)|diffusers]] of the [[Williams FW31]], [[Toyota TF109]] and the Brawn BGP 001 on the grounds that they did not fall within the dimensions set out in the regulations,<ref>[http://www.itv-f1.com/news_article.aspx?id=45325 Official Complaint against Diffusers]</ref> but after analysing the cars the race stewards reported that the cars were legal. This ruling was appealed and the appeal was heard after the second race of the season.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7965056.stm Date set for F1 diffuser appeal]</ref> However motorsport's governing body ruled that the car was legal.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7996698.stm F1 appeal rules in Brawn's favour] BBC sport 2009-04-15</ref> There was another complaint at Malaysia after which [[BMW Sauber]] joined the appeal after they were deemed legal, again.<ref>[http://www.itv-f1.com/news_article.aspx?id=45483 BMW join appeal] ITV-F1.com. 2009-04-04. Retrieved on 2009-04-04</ref> After the appeal the diffuser was deemed legal by the FIA.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7996698.stm FIA deem diffusers legal] BBC Sport. 2009-04-15. Retrieved on 2009-04-15</ref> In [[2009 Spanish Grand Prix|Spain]], the car received its first improvements since Australia{{Citation needed|date=June 2009}} and gave Brawn a 1-2, just as in Melbourne.
Following [[Honda]]'s withdrawal, development of the BGP 001 car never stopped and on the day of its debut, [[Jenson Button]] performed its shakedown &ndash; the car featuring white, fluorescent [[chartreuse (color)|chartreuse yellow]] and black colours.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=autosport.com|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/73588|title=Brawn targets 'respectable' performance|date=2009-03-06}}</ref> The team gave the BGP 001 its first test at [[Circuit de Catalunya]] on 9 March 2009, topping the timesheets many times.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=f1-live.com|url=http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/090312173446_1.shtml|title=Barrichello keeps Brawn on top! |date=2009-03-12}}</ref> With the testing moving to [[Circuito de Jerez]], Brawn GP continued to set the pace, finishing the test leading two of the three tests.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brawngp.com/pdf/jer15_03web_3.pdf |format=PDF|title=Jenson back on top |publisher=Brawn GP |date=2009-03-18 |accessdate=2009-03-18}}</ref> During an interview Brawn said there was more speed to come after he explained that '...The BGP 001 car is the result of 15 months of intensive development work and the team have been nothing less than fantastic in their commitment to producing two cars in time for the first race'.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=ITV-F1.com |url=http://www.itv-f1.com/news_article.aspx?id=45302 |title=Brawn says more speed to come |date=2009-03-21 | accessdate=2009-03-21 }}</ref> At the [[2009 Australian Grand Prix|first race]] an official complaint was launched by four teams against the rear [[diffuser (automotive)|diffusers]] of the [[Williams FW31]], [[Toyota TF109]] and the Brawn BGP 001 on the grounds that they did not fall within the dimensions set out in the regulations,<ref>[http://www.itv-f1.com/news_article.aspx?id=45325 Official Complaint against Diffusers]</ref> but after analysing the cars the race stewards reported that the cars were legal. This ruling was appealed and the appeal was heard after the second race of the season.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7965056.stm Date set for F1 diffuser appeal]</ref> However motorsport's governing body ruled that the car was legal.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7996698.stm F1 appeal rules in Brawn's favour] BBC sport 2009-04-15</ref> There was another complaint at Malaysia after which [[BMW Sauber]] joined the appeal after they were deemed legal, again.<ref>[http://www.itv-f1.com/news_article.aspx?id=45483 BMW join appeal] ITV-F1.com. 2009-04-04. Retrieved on 2009-04-04</ref> After the appeal the diffuser was deemed legal by the FIA.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7996698.stm FIA deem diffusers legal] BBC Sport. 2009-04-15. Retrieved on 2009-04-15</ref> In [[2009 Spanish Grand Prix|Spain]], the car received its first improvements since Australia{{Citation needed|date=June 2009}} and gave Brawn a 1-2, just as in Melbourne.
Jenson Button used a single Brawn BGP001 during the 2009 season, making BGP001-02 one of the most successful F1 chassis of all time.
Jenson Button used a single Brawn BGP001 during the 2009 season, making BGP001-02 one of the most successful F1 chassis of all time.
German car giant Mercedes has bought the Brawn Formula 1 team


==Sponsorship==
==Sponsorship==

Revision as of 12:40, 16 November 2009

52°01′19″N 1°08′42″W / 52.021964°N 1.144899°W / 52.021964; -1.144899

United Kingdom Brawn-Mercedes
Full nameBrawn GP Formula One Team
BaseBrackley, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom
Team principal(s)Ross Brawn
Nick Fry[1]
Formula One World Championship career
First entry2009 Australian Grand Prix
Last entry2024 Belgian Grand Prix
Races entered17
Constructors'
Championships
1 (2009)
Drivers'
Championships
1 (2009)
Race victories8
Pole positions5
Fastest laps4
Portal Formula One portal

Brawn GP Formula One Team, the trading name of Brawn GP Limited, was a Formula One motor racing team and constructor. Brawn GP was formed on 6 March 2009 when it was confirmed that Ross Brawn, the former technical director for the Honda Racing F1 Team, Ferrari and Benetton, had bought the team from Honda[2][3] in the wake of the Japanese marque's withdrawal from the sport in December 2008. On 17 March 2009 the FIA officially agreed to the name change from Honda Racing F1 Team to Brawn GP. Although the team can be seen as a continuation of the Honda team, the FIA considered Brawn GP to be an entirely new entry, but agreed to waive the standard entry fee in recognition of the team's circumstances.[4]

The new team made its racing debut at the 2009 season-opening Australian Grand Prix on 28 March 2009, where they took pole position and 2nd place in qualifying. The team went on to win the top two positions in their debut Grand Prix race on 29 March 2009, with Jenson Button winning the race and Rubens Barrichello coming in second.

The team uses Mercedes-Benz engines and its cars are driven by the ex-Honda partnership of Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello, which has lasted for 3 years.[5] In the early part of the season, several other sponsors were signed, including Virgin, M I G Investments, Henri Lloyd and PerkinElmer.

On 18 October 2009, at the Brazilian Grand Prix, Button clinched the 2009 Drivers' Title on his debut season for Brawn GP, and he and teammate Barrichello contributed points to secure Brawn the Constructors' Championship on its maiden season.

[6]

History

2009

Jenson Button en route to his win at the Spanish Grand Prix.

Although Honda were thought to be the first team to run a KERS in 2008,[7] Ross Brawn stated in an interview that due to the circumstances of the change in ownership the team did not have the time to develop the system yet.[8] On 20 March it was confirmed that Brawn GP would be allocated the final pitlane slot, with Force India moving up one slot. Bernie Ecclestone suggested that this is due to the takeover involving a name change, saying that 'If ... it was called Honda ... [w]hatever was due to Honda, they would have got'.[9] For this reason Brawn GP were initially assigned numbers 20 and 21 after Force India were assigned Honda's old numbers of 18 and 19. This however was changed at the request of Force India because their promotional material had already been printed with numbers 20 and 21. Brawn had no objection and were reassigned numbers 22 and 23, with 18 and 19 not assigned to anyone.[10]

The team started off strongly on the Friday Practice of the Australian Grand Prix finishing in the top five. In qualifying at Australia Jenson Button took pole, with fellow teammate Rubens Barrichello coming 2nd, followed by Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel.[11] This was followed by a race win for Jenson Button, who led from start to finish, with Rubens Barrichello second [12] giving Brawn a 1-2 finish on their debut, which had not happened since Mercedes did it in the 1954 French Grand Prix.[13]

Jenson Button won the rain-shortened Malaysian Grand Prix from pole and picked up the fastest lap.[14] With the win in Malaysia, Brawn GP became the only constructor to win their first two races since Alfa Romeo won the first ever two World Championship Grands Prix at the 1950 British Grand Prix and Monaco Grand Prix.[15]

At the 2009 Chinese Grand Prix Barrichello qualified in front of Button for the first time this season but in the rain Jenson Button finished 3rd with Rubens Barrichello 4th behind the Red Bulls of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber.[16]

Rubens Barrichello couldn't beat Button on race day in Monaco.

Button won again at the Bahrain Grand Prix from fourth on the grid with Barrichello in fifth from sixth. Button ran most of the race in clean air and maintained the lead after the Toyotas pitted and fell down the order. This was the first time they were slower, with the fuel corrected qualifying times, in the season and was blamed on the lack of development on the car.[17]

At the 2009 Spanish Grand Prix, Brawn achieved their second 1-2 of the season with Button leading home Barrichello again. Brawn's fourth win saw them overtake Honda on the all-time wins list.[18]

Button at the 2009 Turkish Grand Prix.

At the Monaco Grand Prix the same qualifying results as in Spain were achieved with Button on pole. Button led Barrichello, who'd overtaken Kimi Räikkönen off the line, into the first corner with Button leading Barrichello, Räikkönen and Felipe Massa for the majority of the race. Button took Brawn's third 1-2 and his first hat trick of wins.[19]

At the 2009 Turkish Grand Prix the Brawns were beaten to pole by Vettel after struggling with pace throughout Friday and Saturday, for Button especially. At the start, Barrichello's anti-stall cut in and he fell to the back of the grid; Button meanwhile, after pointing the car at Vettel got off cleanly and inherited the lead at turn 10 when Vettel ran wide. Button lead the race calmly for the rest of the race with his team mate having many incidents before giving Brawn their first retirement after losing seventh gear.[20]

At the British Grand Prix both drivers struggled for the team’s home race. The car couldn't heat up the tyres enough and both drivers struggled with balance issues. Button had his worst qualifying of the season in sixth with Barrichello achieving second. In the race neither of the drivers shone and both had rather quiet races to third and sixth with Button having a late surge.[21]

At the German Grand Prix the team suffered the same fate as in Britain as both drivers suffered with tyre temperatures.[22] The team qualified light as to get onto the front row and qualified behind Webber in second and third, respectively.[23] Despite leading in the first stint, Barrichello finished sixth after a faulty fuel rig ruined his race. Button ran in the low points after getting stuck behind Kovalainen and managed to overtake Barrichello to finish fifth after the team inverted their pit-stop laps to lessen his disadvantage to contenders Webber and Vettel who finished first and second respectively.[24]

At the Hungarian Grand Prix Brawn suffered the same uncompetitiveness after experiencing their worst qualifying of the season with Button in eighth and Barrichello in thirteenth, respectively. Although, the reason for Barrichello's underperformance was caused by his rear suspension failing resulting in a spring falling off and subsequently striking Ferrari's Felipe Massa on the helmet resulting in serious head injuries. Button too was affected by this as his car spent most of Q3 being checked to make sure the same components would not fail and ended up qualifying with much more fuel than planned. In the race neither driver showed much pace although when the temperatures hit 40oC Button was the fastest man on the track at that point. Button managed to repass Trulli through the final pit stops and pick up seventh with his teammate in tenth closely behind Nakajima and Trulli.[25]

At the Japanese Grand Prix Brawn had the opportunity to clinch the 2009 Constructors Championship, however the drivers started 6th and 10th. Both drivers had reasonably successful races, eventually finishing 7th and 8th. This left Brawn just half a point from winning Constructors Championship. After the race, the race stewards announced they were investigating Nico Rosberg for excessive speed under safety car conditions. A typical 25-second penalty would have moved both Brawn drivers one place up and the Constructors Championship would have been won, however it was announced later that Rosberg was in the clear and the race result would stand.

At the 2009 Brazilian Grand Prix Brawn secured the 2009 Constructors Championship as Button finished in 5th place with Barrichello in 8th. In Abu Dhabi, the final race of the season, they finished 3-4 with Button world champion and Barrichello 3rd in the championship.[26]

BGP 001

The Brawn BGP 001 during testing.

Following Honda's withdrawal, development of the BGP 001 car never stopped and on the day of its debut, Jenson Button performed its shakedown – the car featuring white, fluorescent chartreuse yellow and black colours.[27] The team gave the BGP 001 its first test at Circuit de Catalunya on 9 March 2009, topping the timesheets many times.[28] With the testing moving to Circuito de Jerez, Brawn GP continued to set the pace, finishing the test leading two of the three tests.[29] During an interview Brawn said there was more speed to come after he explained that '...The BGP 001 car is the result of 15 months of intensive development work and the team have been nothing less than fantastic in their commitment to producing two cars in time for the first race'.[30] At the first race an official complaint was launched by four teams against the rear diffusers of the Williams FW31, Toyota TF109 and the Brawn BGP 001 on the grounds that they did not fall within the dimensions set out in the regulations,[31] but after analysing the cars the race stewards reported that the cars were legal. This ruling was appealed and the appeal was heard after the second race of the season.[32] However motorsport's governing body ruled that the car was legal.[33] There was another complaint at Malaysia after which BMW Sauber joined the appeal after they were deemed legal, again.[34] After the appeal the diffuser was deemed legal by the FIA.[35] In Spain, the car received its first improvements since Australia[citation needed] and gave Brawn a 1-2, just as in Melbourne. Jenson Button used a single Brawn BGP001 during the 2009 season, making BGP001-02 one of the most successful F1 chassis of all time.

Sponsorship

The Brawn BGP 001 with the Terminator livery.
The Brawn GP motor home hosts all the team's sponsors.

The sponsors that were still with the Honda team at the end of the 2008 season, including Bridgestone, stayed on as sponsors for the start of the 2009 season.

On 26 March 2009, Brawn GP announced a partnership with British clothing manufacturer Henri Lloyd. The company agreed to supply the team with clothing and footwear, with their brand appearing on the BGP 001.[36] On 28 March 2009 Sir Richard Branson announced Virgin as a major sponsor for the team.[37] On April 17 Brawn announced an agreement with MIG Investments, who would sport their logo on the front of the car.[38] It was also confirmed on April 19 that Ray-Ban, a sunglasses manufacturer, would carry on sponsoring the team - their logo appears on the drivers' helmets.[39] At the 2009 Bahrain Grand Prix Virgin sported their Virgin Galactic logo instead of Virgin.[40] The team re-signed Endless Advance[41] and NCE Corporation[42] and signed a new supplier deal with safety harness supplier Willans before the Spanish Grand Prix.[43] Only for the Spanish Grand Prix, Sony Pictures joined the team with the cars featuring promotional imagery from the upcoming film Terminator Salvation.[44] At the 2009 Monaco Grand Prix, Google co-founder Larry Page was rumoured to be in talks with Brawn to sponsor the team in 2010. Although a guest of McLaren-Mercedes, Page is believed to want the Google name to appear on a race-winning team.[45] The team took up sponsorship from Graham-London before the British Grand Prix, with their logo being shown on the BGP 001s' wing mirrors. In addition, Monster Energy added their logo to Button's helmet from Silverstone onwards.[46] However, Richard Branson indicated that Virgin were unlikely to continue their deal next season, citing cost as a hurdle.[47] For the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, the BGP001 sported the Italian zipper company Raccagni logo and name on the side wings in front of the side-pods.

For the 2009 Singapore Grand Prix, Brawn GP secured a sponsorship deal with Canon.[48]

For the 2009 Japanese Grand Prix, Brawn GP secured a single race sponsorship deal with Angfa Co. Ltd, maker of the medical shampoo Scalp-D, which has proved very popular in Japan since its launch in 2005.[49]

For the 2009 Brazilian Grand Prix, the event in which they won the Constructors' Championship, Brawn GP had deals with Banco do Brasil and Petrópolis brewery to display their colours and beer brand Itaipava and TNT energy drink on both cars.[50] They also had a one-race partnership with Spanish insurance company Mapfre.[51]

For the 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the team had a deal with Qatar Telecom.

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Chassis Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Points WCC
2009 Brawn BGP 001 Mercedes-Benz FO 108W B AUS MAL CHN BHR ESP MON TUR GBR GER HUN EUR BEL ITA SIN JPN BRA ABU 172 1st
United Kingdom Jenson Button 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 6 5 7 7 Ret 2 5 8 5 3
Brazil Rubens Barrichello 2 5 4 5 2 2 Ret 3 6 10 1 7 1 6 7 8 4

Half points awarded as less than 75% of race distance was completed

References

  1. ^ "Brawn: No choice but to buy Honda". autosport.com. 2009-03-10.
  2. ^ "Brawn GP take over Honda Racing". autosport.com. 2009-03-05.
  3. ^ "Honda team to return as Brawn GP". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2009-03-06.
  4. ^ "Honda officially becomes Brawn GP". autosport.com. 2009-03-17.
  5. ^ "Ross Brawn buys Honda Racing F1 Team". AUSmotive.com. 2009-03-06.
  6. ^ "Mercedes take ownership of Brawn". news.bbc.co.uk. 2009-11-16.
  7. ^ "Honda first to run KERS in car". autosport.com. 2008-05-11.
  8. ^ "Q & A with Ross Brawn". autosport.com. 2009-03-10.
  9. ^ "Brawn GP gets final pitlane slot". autosport.com. 2009-03-20.
  10. ^ "FIA revises final 2009 entry list". autosport.com. 2009-03-26.
  11. ^ Button heads all Brawn front row|2009-03-27|ITV-F1.com
  12. ^ Button gets dream win|2009-03-29|BBC Sport
  13. ^ Brilliant Button wins on Brawn debut.2009-03-29.eurosport.co.uk
  14. ^ Button wins second pole ITV-F1.com. 2009-04-04. Retrieved on 2009-04-04
  15. ^ Classy Button wins abandoned race|2009-04-05|BBC Sport
  16. ^ Vettel flies home with RBR maiden win ITV-F1.com. 2009-04-19. Retrieved on 2009-04-19
  17. ^ "Brilliant Button wins at Bahrain". BBC Sport. 26 April 2009. Retrieved 28 April 2009.
  18. ^ "Another Brawn 1-2 as Button takes arms". Autosport. 196 (7): 30. 2009. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  19. ^ "Ferrari powerless to stop Brawn". Retrieved 2009-07-04.
  20. ^ "Button halts Red Bull charge". Retrieved 2009-07-04.
  21. ^ "Vettel charges to dominant win". Retrieved 2009-07-04.
  22. ^ "Murray Walker answers questions".
  23. ^ "Allen's star of qualifying".
  24. ^ "Where everyone finished when Webber won at last".
  25. ^ "Hamilton takes first win of 2009".
  26. ^ "Brazilian Grand Prix: Jenson Button seals world title with brilliant drive". Daily Mail. 2009-10-18. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
  27. ^ "Brawn targets 'respectable' performance". autosport.com. 2009-03-06.
  28. ^ "Barrichello keeps Brawn on top!". f1-live.com. 2009-03-12.
  29. ^ "Jenson back on top" (PDF). Brawn GP. 2009-03-18. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
  30. ^ "Brawn says more speed to come". ITV-F1.com. 2009-03-21. Retrieved 2009-03-21.
  31. ^ Official Complaint against Diffusers
  32. ^ Date set for F1 diffuser appeal
  33. ^ F1 appeal rules in Brawn's favour BBC sport 2009-04-15
  34. ^ BMW join appeal ITV-F1.com. 2009-04-04. Retrieved on 2009-04-04
  35. ^ FIA deem diffusers legal BBC Sport. 2009-04-15. Retrieved on 2009-04-15
  36. ^ "Brawn GP announces new partnership with Henri Lloyd" (PDF). Brawn GP. 2009-03-26.
  37. ^ "Virgin announce deal with Brawn". ITV-F1.com. 2009-03-23.
  38. ^ Brawn announce partnership with MIG Brawn GP. 2009-04-17. Retrieved on 2009-04-17.
  39. ^ Ray-Ban carry on sponsorship (PDF) Brawn GP. 2009-04-19. Retrieved on 2009-04-20
  40. ^ Brawn was running with increased Virgin branding on its car in practice (IMAGE) ITV-F1.com. 2009-04-24. Retrieved on 2009-04-24
  41. ^ "Brawn GP continue partnership with Endless Advance". Brawn GP.co.uk. 2009-05-07. Retrieved 2009-05-07.
  42. ^ "Brawn GP continue partnership with NCE". Brawn GP.co.uk. 2009-05-07. Retrieved 2009-05-07.
  43. ^ "Brawn GP sign supplier deal with Willans". Brawn GP.co.uk. 2009-05-07. Retrieved 2009-05-07.
  44. ^ "The Official Formula 1 Website". Formula1.com. 2009-05-08. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
  45. ^ "Brawn GP May Secure Google Sponsorship". AutoEvoltion. 2009-05-28. Retrieved 2009-06-27.
  46. ^ "Brawn new deal with Graham London". Retrieved 2009-07-03.
  47. ^ "Virgin set to end Brawn link-up". BBC. 2009-06-21. Retrieved 2009-06-21.
  48. ^ Wong, Jonathan (2009-09-18). "Brawn-Canon tie-up for Singapore GP". motoring.asiaone.com. The Straits Times. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  49. ^ "BRAWN GP AGREES NEW PARTNERSHIP FOR JAPANESE GRAND PRIX$". http://www.brawngp.com/readstory.asp?bgp=j%C1%AA%C0rZz%5E. Brawn GP. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); External link in |work= (help)
  50. ^ "Equipe de Barrichello terá patrocinador brasileiro no GP do Brasil, em Interlagos" (in Portuguese). Globoesporte.com. 2009-09-08.
  51. ^ "Official site of the Brawn GP Formula One Team". Brawngp.com. 2009-10-16. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
Sporting positions
Preceded by Formula One Constructors' Champion
2009
Succeeded by
Incumbent