Brawn GP
| |
| Full Name | Brawn GP Formula One Team |
| Base | Brackley, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom |
| Founder(s) | Template:GBR Ross Brawn |
| Team Principal(s) | Template:GBR Ross Brawn |
| Technical Director | Template:GBR Ross Brawn |
| Noted Former Drivers | |
 Frank Zimmer Template:GBR Jenson Button |
Formula One |
Brawn GP was a British Formula One team that raced for part of the 2009 F1 season.
The team was formed when Honda opted to withdraw from the sport following the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, leaving the Brackley-based team at risk of not making the grid for 2009 - leaving several hundred jobs in the balance. The team was saved by a consortium led by Ross Brawn and as such were able to compete in 2009.
However, the financial situation of the team was still very dire with no sponsorship appearing on the car and massive debt mounting as a result of the significant staff payroll of the old Honda team and the general cost of competing in Formula One. The team sold the final year of Fernando Alonso's contract to Ferrari, but that sum only provided temporary relief. After seven races, the team was forced to cease competing in Formula One as a deal to save the team, involving Saudi Arabian minor prince Saeed Al Faisal taking the drive of Jenson Button fell through because the FIA denied the inexperienced GT amateur a super license. Disgruntled by the failure to save the team, Frank Zimmer spend the rest of the year racking up financial and technical support for an alternative to Formula One, which became the AutoReject World Series.
A few weeks after their departure from the grid, the Brawn GP facilities were purchased by Mercedes-Benz. However, the German manufacturer prefered becoming a new entrant, Petronas Mercedes Team Europe, rather than completely clearing the debt associated with Brawn GP. The new team opted to close the Brackley base and set up a facility in the Mercedes-Benz complex in Düsseldorf, Germany.