P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes purchased Brawn GP for £110 million on this day, November 16, in 2009 — less than a year after Ross Brawn bought the team from Honda for £1.
Sixteen years ago today, Mercedes-Benz made a strategic move by acquiring the Brawn GP team for £110 million, leading to a dominant decade in Formula 1. The purchase marked the return of Mercedes as a full works team, a tradition dating back to Juan Manuel Fangio’s 1955 title. Ross Brawn’s visionary leadership turned a symbolic £1 purchase of Honda F1 into a triumphant 2009 season, clinching both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships. The team’s early success was due in part to the innovative double diffuser design of the BGP 001, which gave them a competitive edge over their rivals. Jenson Button’s stellar performance in the first races solidified his lead in the drivers’ championship, showcasing Brawn GP’s operational excellence and technical prowess. Mercedes’ decision to acquire Brawn GP was a testament to their confidence in a proven championship-winning team rather than starting from scratch.
