Brawn GP was powered by Mercedes engines during its 2009 championship season.
The team emerged after Honda withdrew from Formula One at the end of 2008. Ross Brawn led a management buyout of Honda’s operation, creating Brawn GP just weeks before the 2009 season. Its BGP 001 car was adapted to use Mercedes-Benz’s 2.4-litre V8 engine, supplied through a customer arrangement.
The Mercedes power unit helped Brawn GP’s already innovative car, particularly its controversial double diffuser, make a spectacular start. Jenson Button won six of the first seven races, while Rubens Barrichello added two victories later in the year. Brawn secured both the Constructors’ Championship and Drivers’ Championship in its only season.
A common mix-up is Honda: Brawn inherited Honda’s personnel, facilities and much of the car’s development work, but Honda did not supply the race engine. Mercedes later bought a majority stake in the team, which became Mercedes GP for 2010.