Attention collectors! Later this year, another special Formula 1 car will be auctioned. Following the recent record-breaking sale of Juan Manuel Fangio’s Mercedes, a slightly newer model is now going under the hammer. The car in question is the Brawn BGP 001, an award-winning vehicle and one of the biggest underdogs in Formula 1 history.
In the lead-up to the Miami GP, auction house Bonhams is offering a Brawn GP ‘BGP 001’. This is the first time this car, of which only three were made, is being auctioned. The Brawn GP team became world champions in the 2009 Formula 1 season with this stark white speedster. Jenson Button also clinched the drivers’ title that same year. The chassis that will be sold – number 001 – was once owned by the British champion.
Underdogs
The BGP 001 was initially designed by Honda, before the Japanese decided to withdraw from Formula 1 in 2008. Team boss Ross Brawn and CEO Nick Fry took over the team’s assets for one British pound. As a result, the renamed Brawn GP was able to participate in the championship in 2009 as usual.
During the initial tests, drivers Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello surprised everyone; the BGP 001 proved to be astonishingly fast. The car distinguished itself with a unique ‘double diffuser’. Ultimately, Brawn GP would secure eight victories and fifteen podium finishes, enough to clinch the world title. Although the competition made a comeback during the season, the lead of the British team proved too large. After this miraculous triumph, the team was sold to Mercedes-Benz – the rest is history.
The title-winning Brawn GP chassis of Jenson Button, number 002, was given to team owner Ross Brawn, while Mercedes retained chassis 003. As Button had clinched the title, he was entitled to his own car according to a clause in his contract. Mercedes initially tried to offer Button a replica, but eventually had to give him chassis 001 – the car Barrichello had used at the beginning of the season. This specific vehicle will thus come into private hands for the first time in May.
