The first-ever Brawn GP Formula 1 car (chassis BGP 001/01) will be auctioned at Bonham's Miami Grand Prix sale this May. This historic chassis, one of only three ever produced, was primarily driven by Rubens Barrichello during the team's fairy tale 2009 season.

BGP 001/01 secured two victories and four podiums under Barrichello, including wins at the European Grand Prix in Valencia and the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. The car is presented in its Abu Dhabi Grand Prix livery, the final race of the 2009 season.

The Brawn GP story represents one of Formula 1's most remarkable achievements. After Honda's withdrawal, the team emerged through a management buyout, fitted Mercedes engines to their Honda-developed chassis, and proceeded to win both the Drivers' and Constructors' championships in their only season of competition. The team claimed eight victories from 17 races in 2009.

The car was later acquired by Jenson Button through a contractual clause following his championship victory, remaining in his possession until 2024. Of the other two chassis, 001/02 (Button's championship-winning car) belongs to Ross Brawn and remains the only running example, while 001/03 is owned by Mercedes and displayed at the Silverstone Museum.

This auction follows recent record-breaking F1 car sales, including:

• 1954-55 Mercedes W196R Stromlinienwagen: $53.9 million
• 2013 Mercedes F1 W04 (Hamilton's first Mercedes win): $18.8 million
• 1954 Mercedes W196R: $29.6 million

The Brawn GP chassis represents a unique opportunity to own a piece of Formula 1 history that helped establish the foundation for Mercedes' subsequent dominance in the sport.

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