The Brawn GP BGP 001/01, one of three chassis built by the team in 2009, has sold for $3.8 million at an auction during the Miami Grand Prix. Rubens Barrichello drove the car for most of the season, scoring wins at the European and Italian Grands Prix, along with four podiums. That year, the team pulled off a stunning upset, winning both the constructors’ and drivers’ world championships, with Jenson Button taking the top spot.
The Car’s History
As part of his contract, Button claimed the car after the 2009 season. However, this led to a legal dispute with Mercedes, who had acquired the Brawn team. Button eventually won the case and received the BGP 001/01, keeping it until 2024. The car’s sale was handled by Bonhams, which described it as a piece of motorsport history. Louis Frankel, from Bonhams, said the chassis represents F1’s greatest fairy tale, with its revolutionary design redefining the sport.
The other two Brawn GP chassis were not sold. Button’s car, the 001/02, is still functional and owned by Ross Brawn. It has appeared at events like the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The third chassis, 001/03, is now at the Mercedes museum in Silverstone.
F1 Car Auction Records
The sale of the Brawn GP BGP 001/01 didn’t break any records. The most expensive F1 car ever sold at auction is the 1955 Mercedes W196R, which fetched $52.6 million. The third most expensive is Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes W04, sold for $18.3 million in 2023. The record for the most expensive car ever sold remains the 1955 Mercedes 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe, which went for around $142 million in 2022.
- The Brawn GP BGP 001/01 sold for $3.8 million.
- Jenson Button drove the 001/02 to the 2009 championship.
- The 001/03 is now at the Mercedes museum.
The 2009 F1 world championship winning Brawn has sold for $3.8m at auction at the #MiamiGP 💰🏆 pic.twitter.com/zuqKlnfx0h
— Autosport (@autosport) May 4, 2025
