The 2009 Australian Grand Prix was one of the most unexpected and memorable season openers in Formula 1 history. It marked the debut of Brawn GP, a team that had only just been saved from collapse a few weeks earlier, yet managed to secure a stunning one-two finish.

Honda had left Formula 1 at the end of 2008 due to financial difficulties, leaving its team in limbo. Ross Brawn, who had been the team principal, led a management buyout, rebranding it as Brawn GP. With very little time to prepare and no major sponsors, expectations were uncertain. However, the car they had developed for 2009 under Honda ownership turned out to be a revelation. It was built around a controversial but legal “double diffuser,” which gave it a huge aerodynamic advantage.

From the first practice sessions in Melbourne, it was clear that Brawn GP was quick. When qualifying came, Jenson Button took pole position, with his teammate Rubens Barrichello securing second place. It was an incredible achievement for a team that had barely made it to the grid.

On race day, Button got away cleanly from pole and controlled the race from the front. Barrichello had a more difficult start, dropping back due to a poor getaway and minor contact, but he managed to recover through the race. The biggest drama came in the closing laps when Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel and BMW Sauber’s Robert Kubica collided while fighting for second place. This brought out the safety car, which effectively sealed a dream one-two finish for Brawn GP.

Button’s victory was emotional. Just a few months earlier, he had been unsure if he would even have a drive for the season, and now he was standing on the top step of the podium. Barrichello, despite his troubles in the race, finished second, making it a perfect start for the new team.

The result completely shocked the sport. No one had expected a brand-new team to dominate in such fashion, especially after such a turbulent winter. But this was just the beginning. The Australian Grand Prix set the tone for what would become an incredible season for Brawn GP and Jenson Button, ultimately leading to both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships.

Years later, the amazing story of Brawn GP was told in the Disney+ series Brawn: The Impossible Formula 1 Story. Narrated by Keanu Reeves, the show looks at how the team went from almost disappearing to winning the championship in just one season. It features interviews with key people like Ross Brawn, Jenson Button, and Rubens Barrichello, who share their experiences from that incredible year. The series also explains how the team’s clever car design gave them an advantage and shows the challenges they had to overcome.