Brawn GP’s Championship-Winning F1 Car Fetches USD 3.8 Million in Auction

During the 2025 Miami Grand Prix weekend, the Brawn GP Formula 1 car that helped Jenson Button win the 2009 World Championship sold for $3.8 million at auction. The sale celebrated one of Formula 1’s most memorable underdog stories and attracted wide interest from motorsport fans and collectors. Brawn GP’s rise began when Honda withdrew from Formula 1 in 2008. Ross Brawn and Nick Fry bought the team for just £1 and partnered with Mercedes-Benz. Their innovative double diffuser helped the team dominate the 2009 season, defying all expectations.

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Louis Frankel, head of sales at Bonhams|Cars in Miami, called Brawn GP’s story a “Formula 1 fairy tale.” The auctioned car, chassis number 001/01, gained global attention for its role in the team’s surprise championship success. Rubens Barrichello first drove this chassis in early 2009 before it was handed to Jenson Button after he secured the title. Although the auction price was lower than the estimated $4.5–6.5 million, the car remains a standout piece of engineering, powered by a 750bhp Mercedes-Benz V8 engine.

Even without a working gearbox, the car's legacy goes beyond its components. It symbolises one of Formula 1’s greatest comebacks and represents resilience, technical brilliance, and strategic leadership. Collectors see it as a unique reminder of Brawn GP’s improbable double title win.

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The 2009 season highlighted Ross Brawn’s leadership and the team’s creativity. From financial risk to technical success, Brawn GP’s story remains unmatched. The Miami auction not only honoured this car's role in history but also reminded fans of the spirit that makes Formula 1 unforgettable.