A piece of Formula 1 history is set to go under the hammer at next May's Miami Grand Prix: the Brawn GP BGP 001/01, the very first car produced by the team and the 2009 championship winner. The prestigious auction will be handled by Bonhams on May 3rd, marking the first time a Brawn GP car has been made available to the public.
The Brawn GP team's 2009 season is legendary. Rising from the ashes of Honda's abandoned F1 project, the team, led by Ross Brawn, staged an incredible comeback, challenging Ferrari, McLaren, and Red Bull with a fraction of their budgets. The car at auction, BGP 001/01, is one of just three Brawn GP chassis ever built. It was driven by Rubens Barrichello throughout much of the 2009 season, claiming two race wins and four podium finishes.
At the heart of Brawn GP's success was its groundbreaking 'double diffuser', a controversial but legal aerodynamic innovation that exploited a loophole in the 2009 regulations. This technological edge proved decisive in securing the championship before other teams could develop effective countermeasures.
Following the 2009 season, BGP 001/01 was acquired by Mercedes, initially serving as a showcar before being transferred to Jenson Button under a contractual agreement. However, a legal dispute ensued, with Button taking Mercedes to court to claim his rightful prize. The car remained in his possession until 2024, when it was made available for auction.
Louis Frankel, Miami head of sale at Bonhams, said, "This car represents the ultimate Formula 1 fairy tale -- a revolutionary design that redefined what was possible. Chassis 001/01 is a piece of motorsport history, and its offering at auction is sure to captivate collectors worldwide."