Brawn GP
Template:F1 team Brawn GP Ltd. is a Formula One motor racing team and constructor. It was formed on 6 March 2009 after it was confirmed that Ross Brawn, the ex-team boss of the Honda Racing F1 Team, had bought the team from Honda[1][2] in the wake of the withdrawal from the sport of the Japanese marque in December 2008, and on 17 March 2009 the FIA officially agreed to the name change from Honda Racing F1 Team to Brawn GP. Brawn GP were considered to be an entirely new entry, but the FIA agreed to waive the standard entry fee.[3] The new team made its racing debut at the 2009 season-opening Australian Grand Prix on 28 March 2009, where they took the pole 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. However, the results are provisional subject to an ongoing appeal over the team's diffusers.
The team use 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.[4]
History
2009
Although Honda were thought to be the first team to run a KERS in 2008,[5] 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.[6] On the 20th of March it was confirmed that Brawn GP will 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'.[7] This also resulted in Brawn being changed to car numbers 22 and 23, because promotional material of Force India had already been printed with numbers 20 and 21.[8] The team started off strongly on the Friday Practice of the Australian Grand Prix finishing in the top 5. In qualifying at Australia Jenson Button took pole with fellow teammate Rubens Barrichello coming 2nd followed by Red Bull Racing's Sebastian Vettel. [9] This was followed by a race win for Jenson Button with Barrichello second [10] giving Brawn a 1-2 finish on their debut, which had not happened since 1954. [11]
BGP 001
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/Barrichello_Barcelona_testing.jpg/200px-Barrichello_Barcelona_testing.jpg)
Following Honda's withdrawal, development of the BGP 001 never stopped and on the day of its debut, Jenson Button performed its shakedown – the car featuring white, fluorescent yellow and black colours.[12] The team gave the BGP 001 its first test at Circuit de Catalunya on 9 March 2009, topping the timesheets many times.[13]. With the testing moving to Circuito de Jerez, Brawn GP continued to set the pace, finishing the test leading two of the three tests.[14] 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'.[15] At the first race an official complaint was launched by other teams against the rear diffusers of the Williams FW31, Toyota TF109 and the Brawn BGP 001 saying that they were illegal,[16] but after analysing the cars the FIA reported that the cars weren't illegal. This ruling has been appealed, the appeal will be heard after the second race of the season.[17]
Sponsorship
On 26 March 2009, Brawn GP announced a partnership with British clothing manufacturer Henri Lloyd. The company will supply the team with clothing and footwear technology and their brand will appear on the BGP 001.[18] On 28 March 2009 Sir Richard Branson announced that Virgin will be a major sponsor for the team. [19]
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 | 18* | 1st* | |
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1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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2 |
* Season ongoing
References
- ^ "Brawn GP take over Honda Racing". autosport.com. 2009-03-05.
- ^ "Honda team to return as Brawn GP". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2009-03-06.
- ^ "Honda officially becomes Brawn GP". autosport.com. 2009-03-17.
- ^ "Ross Brawn buys Honda Racing F1 Team". AUSmotive.com. 2009-03-06.
- ^ "Honda first to run KERS in car". autosport.com. 2008-05-11.
- ^ "Q & A with Ross Brawn". autosport.com. 2009-03-10.
- ^ "Brawn GP gets final pitlane slot". autosport.com. 2009-03-20.
- ^ "FIA revises final 2009 entry list". autosport.com. 2009-03-26.
- ^ Button heads all Brawn front row|2009-03-27|ITV-F1.com
- ^ Button gets dream win|2009-03-29|BBC Sport
- ^ Brilliant Button wins on Brawn debut.2009-03-29.eurosport.co.uk
- ^ "Brawn targets 'respectable' performance". autosport.com. 2009-03-06.
- ^ "Barrichello keeps Brawn on top!". f1-live.com. 2009-03-12.
- ^ "Jenson back on top" (PDF). Brawn GP. 2009-03-18. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
- ^ "Brawn says more speed to come". ITV-F1.com. 2009-03-21. Retrieved 2009-03-21.
- ^ Official Complaint against Diffusers
- ^ Date set for F1 diffuser appeal
- ^ "Brawn GP announces new partnership with Henri Lloyd" (PDF). Brawn GP. 2009-03-26.
- ^ Virgin announce deal with Brawn|2009-03-23|ITV-F1.com
External links
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