Minichamps 1:18 Brawn GP Jenson Button 2009 World Champion – Special Edition Now Available!

Introducing our exclusive collaboration with Minichamps — a limited-edition 1:18 scale die-cast model of the Brawn GP BGP001, as driven by Jenson Button at the 2009 Brazilian Grand Prix to secure his World Championship title. This premium model comes complete with pit boards and is presented in a specially designed gift box.

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Minichamps – 1:18 Brawn GP BGP001 No.22 Jenson Button World Champion Brazilian GP 2009 with Pitboard – Limited Edition Diecast Model

£149.99

Collector’s Price: £134.99

• High-quality diecast model
• Limited edition of 333 pieces
• With piboard
• With giftbox
• Officially licensed
• 1:18 scale (approximately 26cm long)

Minichamps – 1:18 Brawn GP BGP001 No.22 Jenson Button World Champion Brazilian GP 2009 with Pitboard – Limited Edition Diecast Model quantity

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SKU: 183090122

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Handling Video

The Story Behind the Brawn GP Miracle Season

Overview

The Brawn GP BGP 001 is one of the most remarkable and successful Formula One cars ever built, symbolising one of the greatest underdog stories in motorsport history. Fielded by the newly formed Brawn GP team during the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship, the car carried Jenson Button to his first Drivers’ World Championship and secured Brawn GP the Constructors’ title — both achieved in its debut and only season.

At the 2009 Brazilian Grand Prix, held at Interlagos on 18 October, Button drove the BGP 001 to 5th place, a result that mathematically clinched the World Championship, completing a fairy-tale season for both driver and team.

Technical Background

The Brawn GP BGP 001 was originally developed under the Honda Racing F1 Team as the RA109. When Honda withdrew from Formula One at the end of 2008, the team was bought by Ross Brawn, former Ferrari Technical Director, who rebranded it as Brawn GP.

The car was powered by a Mercedes-Benz FO108W 2.4-litre naturally aspirated V8 engine, after Honda’s withdrawal forced the team to find a new engine supplier just weeks before the start of the season.

• Chassis: Carbon-fibre monocoque, designed for optimal aerodynamic efficiency under new 2009 regulations.
• Engine: Mercedes-Benz FO108W 2.4-litre V8 (rev limit: 18,000 rpm)
• Power Output: Approximately 750 bhp
• Transmission: Brawn/Mercedes seven-speed semi-automatic sequential gearbox
• Fuel & Tyres: Bridgestone Potenza tyres with Shell V-Power race fuel
• Weight: Minimum 605 kg (including driver and ballast)

The car’s standout feature was its double-diffuser aerodynamic concept, which exploited a loophole in the 2009 regulations to create significantly more downforce without additional drag. This innovation gave Brawn GP a decisive early-season advantage.

Aerodynamics & Engineering Innovation

The 2009 Formula One regulations introduced radical changes to car design — narrower wings, slick tyres, and simplified aerodynamics — to promote closer racing. Brawn’s interpretation of these rules proved revolutionary.

• Double Diffuser: The BGP 001’s rear diffuser featured multiple airflow channels that increased downforce by accelerating airflow under the car, effectively “supercharging” the car’s ground effect.
• Compact Packaging: The Mercedes V8’s compact dimensions allowed tighter rear-end packaging, improving airflow efficiency.
• Suspension: Double wishbone pushrod suspension front and rear for optimal tyre management.
• Brakes: Carbon-carbon discs and pads for maximum stopping performance.

The aerodynamic concept was so effective that rival teams — including Red Bull, Ferrari, and McLaren — were forced to redesign their cars mid-season to catch up.

Performance & Season Context

The BGP 001 dominated the early part of the 2009 Formula One season, with Jenson Button winning six of the first seven races. His smooth driving style perfectly complemented the car’s balance, tyre management, and aerodynamic efficiency.

However, as rival teams developed their cars, the performance gap narrowed. By the time of the Brazilian Grand Prix, Brawn’s dominance had diminished, but Button needed only a solid points finish to secure the title.

2009 Brazilian Grand Prix – The Defining Moment

The Brazilian Grand Prix, held at Autódromo José Carlos Pace (Interlagos), was the penultimate round of the 2009 season.

Button entered the race weekend with a 14-point lead over teammate Rubens Barrichello and 16 points over Sebastian Vettel.

Qualifying

Qualifying proved difficult for Button — a damp session and traffic issues left him 14th on the grid, while Barrichello started from pole in front of his home crowd.

The Race

On race day, Button delivered one of his finest drives of the season. Showing aggression and precision rarely seen from the smooth Briton, he carved his way through the field with a series of decisive overtakes — passing Romain Grosjean, Kazuki Nakajima, and Kamui Kobayashi in bold moves.

He finished 5th, securing the points needed to clinch the 2009 Drivers’ Championship with one race to spare. Barrichello suffered tyre issues, finishing 8th, while Mark Webber won the race for Red Bull.

Outcome

• Winner: Mark Webber (Red Bull)
• 5th Place: Jenson Button (Brawn GP)
• World Drivers’ Champion: Jenson Button (secured with 5th place)
• Constructors’ Championship: Secured by Brawn GP at the following race in Abu Dhabi.

Button’s celebrations became one of Formula One’s most memorable moments — the underdog driver from Somerset securing the world title in a car that only months earlier had no future.

Team & Legacy

The Brawn GP team, based in Brackley, England, operated on a fraction of the budget of its major rivals. Yet under the leadership of Ross Brawn, the team’s combination of technical brilliance, smart strategy, and driver consistency delivered a historic championship double.

After the 2009 season, Brawn GP was purchased by Mercedes-Benz, forming the foundation for the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, which would go on to dominate the sport throughout the 2010s.

The BGP 001 thus became the car that not only won both championships in its only year of competition, but also laid the groundwork for one of Formula One’s greatest dynasties.

Jenson Button – The Champion

Jenson Button’s 2009 campaign showcased his intelligence, composure, and adaptability. His victories in the early season — notably in Australia, Bahrain, and Monaco — displayed flawless execution, while his drive in Brazil revealed grit and determination under pressure.

Button became the 10th British driver to win the Formula One World Championship, securing his place in motorsport history. His journey from a near-career-ending setback (Honda’s withdrawal) to world champion embodied the resilience of both driver and team.

Key Figures

Legacy

The Brawn GP BGP 001 remains a symbol of Formula One ingenuity and determination. From the ashes of Honda’s withdrawal, a small independent team engineered a car capable of beating the sport’s giants.

The 2009 Brazilian Grand Prix stands as the culmination of that story — a moment when Jenson Button, driving one of the most technically innovative cars ever made, secured a world title against all odds.

Even today, the BGP 001 is celebrated as one of the most important Formula One cars of the modern era: a rare combination of innovation, efficiency, and human triumph.