Brawn BGP 001
Jenson Button at the Spanish Grand Prix, Brawn BGP 001 2009
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The Brawn BGP 001 was the Formula 1 racing car of Brawn GP Formula One team in the 2009 season. These, three were built and used with drivers Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello. The single-seater, originally developed by Honda Racing F1 under the name Honda RA109, excelled in the first half of the season by a distinct competitive advantage: he was equipped with a so-called double diffuser, which provided a performance benefit of three to five tenths of a second per lap.
The Briton Button was in the car world champion, the Brazilian Barrichello finished at the end of the season in third place. In addition, the Brawn team won the Constructors' Championship, the first Formula 1 team in the first year of its existence. [Note 1] Button and Barrichello won a total of eight out of seventeen races. With four races of the team scored a double victory.
- 4.1 Technical Regulations
- 4.2 History of the season 4.2.1 Six wins from the first seven races
- 4.2.2 Winning the world title despite weaker race
Development and testing
The Brawn BGP 001 was developed from April 2008 as the Honda RA109 in Brackley and was the first Honda race car that was built under the leadership of team boss Ross Brawn. The design of the car was three aerodynamics team - Ross Brawn integrated the head of aerodynamics of the resolved Super Aguri F1 racing team, Ben Wood, in his team - designed in four wind tunnels; a total of 450 employees worked on the vehicle development. Leading designers were Jörg Zander as technical director and Loïc Bigois as aerodynamics. The design was exactly the dimensions of the previous model: 470 cm long, 180 cm wide and 95 cm high.
As the Honda team realized that the pilots with the Honda RA108, the racing car of the 2008 season, were not able to drive top rankings, put it on the middle of the season to focus on the development of the race car for the 2009 season. Having Honda had announced its withdrawal from Formula 1 on 5 December 2008, the Honda RA109 was still further developed in order to offer a buyer a finished vehicle can. Finally, the management of Ross Brawn bought on 3 March 2009 even the team and renamed it Brawn GP. Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello were again the driving duo.
On 6 March 2009 Brawn BGP 001 Button put the front on the Silverstone Circuit in the UK. He drove the car on the track variant Stowe Circuit, which is located inside the Bridge Grand Prix Circuit. While the other teams had already completed several test runs, Brawn rose only to the tests from 9 to 12 March, a at the Circuit de Catalunya, north of Barcelona. Except for Toro Rosso and Brawn all teams had been several days of testing with the new race car behind. The two Brawn drivers alternated daily. On the third day of testing Button scored his first fastest time with more than one second lead over second-placed Felipe Massa in the Ferrari F60. A day later, Barrichello posted the fastest lap time of this test week with a time of 1:18,926 minutes before Nico Rosberg in the Williams FW31 with 1:19,774 minutes.
In the next week, when the test runs at the Circuito de Jerez from March 15 to 17, tied the team to the shape of the first week of testing. On the first day Barrichello scored by a margin of six-tenths seconds, the fastest time ahead of Fernando Alonso in the Renault R29. On the second day Alonso set the fastest time ahead of Barrichello. On the third day of testing, the last before the season to put button with the fastest time of the three days of testing at the head of the field.
Already after the first day of testing at the Circuit de Catalunya has been discussed in the paddock on the potential of the Brawn BGP 001. Ross Brawn denied that the fast lap times were achieved with little gasoline. After the first test drives near Barcelona competitors expressed astonishment because of the lap times that were 001 possible with the Brawn BGP. The technical director of Williams, Sam Michael, even expressed the fear that Button and Barrichello would win the first Grand Prix with over one lap. Ferrari driver Massa assessed the situation as follows: "We are competitive - but only in the league behind Brawn. " Jenson Button described the confidence that triggered the good results of test drives in the team, later said: " The data have shown early that we have hit a home run. Even as we were still fighting for the salvation of the team, we knew we had a winning car. "
Technology
Monocoque and wheel carrier
The construction was as for other Formula 1 cars, in a 45 kg monocoque basic structure made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic. Because the module chassis, engine and wings were attached. The mounting for the front wing was the crumple zone to pass the standards prescribed crash tests. The wheelbase was 3180 mm, the front track 1470 mm and 1405 mm rear. The suspension is passed through a double wishbone structure on the front and rear wheels were made of titanium and carbon fiber reinforced plastic. Pressure bars and toggle (so-called " pushrods " ) driving behavior has been tuned. Unlike road vehicles, the spring and damper units by Sachs were not attached to the wheel, but in the monocoque. An active suspension was banned. While button with a single chassis graduated from the entire season, Barrichello changed the chassis for the Singapore Grand Prix.
Aerodynamics
For the 2009 season the rules regarding the wing was greatly changed. The front wing was approved in the width to 180 cm ( instead of 140 cm), reduced the rear wing of the maximum width to 75 cm ( instead of 100 cm). At the same time the rear wing had to be mounted higher ( 95 cm instead of 80 cm above the ground ) and the front wing lower ( 5 cm instead of 15 cm minimum distance to the road ). The regulations for the diffuser has also been redesigned. The diffuser, a 350 mm behind the rear axle incipient and rising to a maximum of 175 mm Vehicle height tail at the end of the underbody, the suction effect increases with the race car, thereby creating a suction effect. He has owned about 40 % of the contact pressure of a Formula 1 racing car. These technical changes, the air turbulence for following vehicles should be reduced and thus overtaking easier.
The special aerodynamic characteristic of the Brawn BGP 001 was the double diffuser with central canal. The double diffuser, the Brawn BGP 001 as well as the Williams FW31 and the Toyota TF109 in the 2009 season placed first, increased the suction effect. Shorter by a second plate over the actual diffuser The double diffuser of the BGP 001 was also due from the bottom is not visible central channel, which generated higher output and thus more traction over simple diffusers.
The teams Ferrari, BMW Sauber, Renault and Red Bull set them before the first race in Australia protest against the Brawn BGP 001 as well as the Williams FW31 and the Toyota TF109 attached double diffusers one. However, the competent race stewards rejected the protest and declared the diffusers in compliance. On appeal, the FIA Sporting court the double diffusers declared on 15 April 2009 concluded admissible. From the 2011 season of the double diffuser is prohibited.
The end of November Loïc Bigois Dino Toso Racecar received the aerodynamicist of the Year Award, an award for the best aerodynamics in Formula 1
Motor
The Brawn GP 001 used a loud FIA regulations at least 95 kg FO108W engine from Mercedes -Benz High Performance Engines, which was placed over a supply available. Therefore, no Mercedes- stickers were on the race car. According to the regulations for the 2009 season, there was a naturally aspirated 2.4-liter V-engine with eight cylinders (90 ° bank angle, 98 mm bore ) with rev limiter to 18,000 min -1 ( rpm). The estimated consumption was 75 liters per 100 kilometers of premium petrol (maximum 102 RON) at a well estimated power of 755 hp. In the first version of the vehicle was adapted in its structure a Honda engine. By converting to the Mercedes- Benz engine, the transmission by 6 mm had to be set up; there came the rear suspension travel is too short. An additional oil cooler, the focus shifted upwards. The purchase contract with Mercedes -Benz was completed after the takeover by Brawn. Alternatively, a purchase of the motor at Ferrari would have been possible.
Transmission
The semi-automatic gearbox, hydraulically actuated without interruption of traction, has been developed by Honda. It had switched according to the Regulations seven sequentially switching forward gears at 30 possible ratios and one reverse speed and was with two shift paddles on the steering wheel.
Electronics
The motor controller, which provided among other things for the speed limit, as well as electronic components, including software, were prescribed according to FIA regulations, supplied by McLaren Electronic Systems in collaboration with Microsoft on all Formula 1 teams alike. Thus, an electronic traction and traction control were excluded.
KERS
Brawn GP continued KERS is not one. The system for kinetic energy recovery was allowed by the regulations for the 2009 season and made possible a performance improvement of up to 60 kW (about 82 hp ) for 6.67 seconds per round. Brawn decided against the use of the system because it would have required an adjustment to one of the vehicle and the other is the vehicle through the KERS weight of 35 kg heavier than the minimum weight of 605 kg would have made . In developed by Honda KERS, the team had no access, since they are concerned about the intellectual property of the Honda Group.
Brakes
According to the rules, two independent brake circuits for front and rear wheels were prescribed an anti-lock system was forbidden. The brake callipers with radially mounted six- piston caliper and brake discs made from carbon - ceramic were built by Italian company Brembo (Button ) and the German - American company Hitco ( Barrichello ) delivered. The weight of a brake disk was about 1.5 kg, the optimum operating temperature was between 400 ° C and 750 ° C. The Brawn BGP 001 had the rear calipers lying down, with small fins on the inside, which provided for additional downforce.
Tires and rims
A tires with slicks was admitted to the season again after it was no longer permitted since 1998. This mechanical grip ( grip ) of the tire increased by 10% and the vehicles achieved higher cornering speeds. The maximum cornering force was changed by the slicks from 6 ° to 5 ° skew angle; thus, the boundary region was narrower. The tires in the size 270/55 R13 front and 325/45 R13 rear ( operating pressure 1.2-1.5 bar) in three specifications (dry, intermediate, wet ) presented the Japanese manufacturer Bridgestone for all teams ready. The one-piece forged magnesium rims with central locking were supplied by BBS automotive technology.
Advertising and painting
The Brawn BGP 001 was painted up in yellow and black stripes around the "nose" all in white. During the first race in Australia the car was next to the own logo of Brawn GP just a logo of the tire manufacturer Bridgestone. As the season Brawn concluded further sponsorship deals, so were added more logos. The first of these new logo was part of the British clothing manufacturer Henri Lloyd, shortly thereafter followed by the Virgin Group as the main sponsor of the team. The Swiss brokerage company MIG Investments was the next major sponsor and received from the Chinese Grand Prix, an advertising space on the front of the vehicle. From the Grand Prix of Great Britain, the British watchmaker Graham - London advertised on the side mirrors of the Brawn BPG 001 In addition, the watch manufacturers presented through the partnership of two exclusive watch, the " BGP 001" bore the additional name.
In addition to the permanent sponsors joined Brawn GP sponsorship deals for individual races from: the Grand Prix of Spain, the vehicle carrying the logo and a picture for the film Terminator Salvation on the side of the rear wing. When the Singapore Grand Prix returned to the Japanese camera manufacturer Canon, with advertising stickers on the sidepods of the Brawn BGP 001, back into Formula 1 Grand Prix of Japan When the Japanese cosmetics company Angfa Scalp -D promoted the hair care line.
For Barrichello's home race in Brazil, it came from a contract with the Brazilian brewery Cervejaria Petrópolis. The beverage company enlisted the Grand Prix weekend for its beer brand Itaipava and its own energy drink TNT. At the season finale in Abu Dhabi, the Qatari telco Qtel campaigned on the rear wings and sidepods of the cars.
A 2010 study published by Formula Money revealed that the Brawn sponsors achieved the best advertising values . Hit the top nine were Brawn - sponsors in the lead. The greatest return on investment achieved Cervejaria Petrópolis with the beer brand Itaipava with a value of 853 %.
Formula 1 2009 season
Technical Regulations
The minimum weight including driver was 605 kg, the maximum vehicle weight was on one tank for the first stint (up to refuel ) at about 665 kg. Each driver stood for the entire season total of eight engines and one gearbox for four consecutive events. Exceeding this scheme led to reset the grid to ten or five places. In addition, for each team 3-8 monocoque chassis were built, for their number, there was no restriction. For each race weekend, each driver were fourteen sets of slick tires, five sets of intermediates and four sets of rain tires. Bridgestone offered the slick tires in four different mixtures of " super soft / soft" and "medium / hard". Two different mixtures had to be used by each driver per race.
Course of the season
Overall, the Brawn BGP 001 won eight races in the 2009 season, four of which were double victories. The Brawn BGP 001 was marked with one, the other teams superior reliability. On 32 target passages to be completed and 97.2% of all laps the team came during the season. Two races were not finished, one due to a technical fault on the transmission, the other due to a collision.
Six wins from the first seven races
At the season opener, the Australian Grand Prix, the Brawn drivers dominated qualifying. In each of the three sections, the two racers took the top places. Finally, Button secured the first pole position of the season ahead of teammate Rubens Barrichello. Button won the race with a start - to-finish victory in front of Barrichello, who had almost resigned at the beginning in a collision at the start. The last time the factory Mercedes team in the 1954 Formula 1 season scored a double victory in the first race.
In the second race of the season, the Malaysian Grand Prix, Button started again from the pole position. The race was canceled due to bad weather. Button won the race, posted the fastest lap and thus scored his first hat-trick in Formula 1 since less than 75 % of the rounds had been completed, all pilots received only half the normal points.
After Button came in third place in the Grand Prix of China, he chose the following four races for themselves. In Spain and Monaco, it also submitted to two further double victories. It was the first time that a single motor three Formula 1 races were won in a row. At the Turkish Grand Prix Barrichello retired with a gearbox failure. It was the first failure of a Brawn BGP 001
In the constructors' championship Brawn -Mercedes led after the first seven races with 96 to 56.5 points ahead of Red Bull-Renault. Button had won with 61 points ahead of Barrichello (35 points ) and Sebastian Vettel ( 29 points ) a potential advantage and six out of seven races. Later in the season, Button scored no further victory.
Winning the world title despite weaker race
In the next three Grand Prix Barrichello was third place in the UK the only podium placement of Brawn. For headlines, the loss of a spring on Barrichello's car made in qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix. The lost spring then jumped across the track, Felipe Massa hit on the head and caused a serious accident from. Massa drove full speed into the tire wall, had to go into hospital and fell the rest of the season. In the race, Brawn achieved seventh place for Button and Barrichello for tenth place, the worst result of the season so far. In this stage of the season, both pilots had to always bring problems their tires to the proper temperature. Therefore, they had their tires warm up to some extent even during the race by zigzag driving.
After the summer break Barrichello scored at the Grand Prix of Europe his first victory in the Brawn BGP 001 After the McLaren drivers had determined qualifying and had started the race from positions one and two, the launching of third place Barrichello decided by a good strategy and pitch of its competitors, the race itself. His overtaking maneuvers were played in the pit stop. It was Barrichello's first win since the Chinese Grand Prix in 2004.
The next Grand Prix in Belgium Button fell after a collision with Romain Grosjean from the first time. With a seventh place Barrichello was the weekend at Spa- Francorchamps, the worst for the Brawn BGP 001 A race later, at the last European race in Italy, scored Brawn with a one- stop strategy, the fourth double victory in the season. Barrichello won the race ahead of Button. The victory at Monza was the last victory of the Brawn BGP 001
In the Asian races in Singapore and Japan, the opposing team succeeded in points ahead of Brawn further reduce. In another 20 to be awarded points Button had a lead of 14 points to 16 points on Barrichello and Vettel. In the constructors' championship Brawn -Mercedes led with 35.5 points ahead of Red Bull -Renault.
At the Grand Prix of Brazil Button finally won his first world title. Barrichello scored in a chaotic qualifying, which was with a duration of 161 minutes, the longest in the history of Formula 1, the pole position, while Button Vettel on the 14th and finished 16th place. In the race Barrichello had the typical bad luck for him at his home race: After a puncture he only came in eighth place finish. Button, however, showed some overtaking maneuvers and improved to fifth place. Thus, his lead was so great that he became world champion ahead of all the other pilots. Also winning Brawn -Mercedes the constructors' championship ahead of Red Bull -Renault.
The battle for second place in the drivers' world championship was ultimately decided at the season finale in Abu Dhabi. Vettel won the race and was runner-up in front of Barrichello. In this race button was also in third place for the ninth time this season on the podium.
In the second half of the season did not manage Brawn to repeat the dominant performance from the first seven races. The reasons were varied: the other teams upgraded during the season well after and took over the Brawn BGP 001 striking features such as the double diffuser. In addition, Brawn had to bring in the second half of the season significant problems with the tires, including the front tires up to temperature and graining. As the Brawn BGP 001 tended to understeer and the right balance of the vehicle was designed for rather slower tracks, enhanced the understeer at faster tracks.
Results
Whereabouts after the season
The Young Driver Days from 1 to 3 December 2009 at the Circuito de Jerez the Brawn BGP 001 ran for the last time, as pilots went on three test days with little experience in Formula 1 car. Brawn sat in the tests Mike Conway, a British pilot from the IndyCar Series, and Marcus Ericsson, a Swedish racing driver, who won the Japanese Formula 3 Championship in 2009, a. Both pilots shared the race car each day of testing. Conway was in each case the faster Brawn driver.
After the team had been sold by the end of the season to Daimler AG, it was renamed Mercedes Grand Prix. As the successor to the Brawn BGP 001, the Mercedes MGP W01, was not yet completed at the team presentation of the Mercedes Grand Prix, the public was a umlackierter Brawn BGP 001 shown.