A piece of Formula 1 history is set to hit the auction block in Miami this May. The 2009 Brawn GP F1 car, driven by Jenson Button to secure the F1 Driver’s Championship, will be auctioned by Bonhams during the Miami Grand Prix weekend. This car, chassis 001/01, is one of only three vehicles built for the 2009 season and is now available for sale for the first time ever.
The 2009 Brawn GP season remains one of the most remarkable stories in F1 history. After Honda pulled out of the sport in 2008, Ross Brawn purchased the team for a symbolic pound and set about creating a car that would stun the motorsport world. The Brawn GP car, with its groundbreaking “double diffuser” that improved aerodynamics, gave the team an extraordinary advantage. Jenson Button dominated early in the season, winning six of the first seven races, and despite increased competition from other teams, he held on to clinch the title in Brazil.
This particular car, chassis 001/01, was driven by Button’s teammate Rubens Barrichello for several races, securing podium finishes at events like Silverstone, Monaco, and Australia. After the season, Button was entitled to one of the Brawn GP cars, but due to a legal dispute with Mercedes, who took over the team, he did not receive it until 2010 after a court order. It was this car that would become the subject of Button’s ongoing legal battle.
The car was displayed in various collections, including Button’s personal garage, until it was sold to a private collector last year. Now, it is up for auction at Bonhams, though no estimate or opening bid has been shared publicly. With recent championship-winning cars selling for millions, it is expected that this piece of F1 history will fetch a significant amount.
Elizabeth Puckett