2009 Formula One World Championship

"F1 2009" redirects here. For the video game based on the 2009 Formula One season, see F1 2009 (video game).

Jenson Button donning fireproof underwear
Jenson Button won his first and only World Championship driving for Brawn GP
Sebastian Vettel signs an autograph while wearing a hat
Sebastian Vettel, finished runner-up behind Button by eleven points, in his first year with Red Bull
Rubens Barrichello looks at something off camera
Button's teammate, Rubens Barrichello (pictured in 2010), finished third in the championship

The 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship was the 63rd season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 60th Formula One World Championship which was contested over 17 events commencing with the Australian Grand Prix on 29 March and ending with the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on 1 November.

Jenson Button and Brawn GP secured the Drivers' Championship and Constructors' Championship titles, respectively, in the Brazilian Grand Prix, the penultimate race of the season. It was both Button and Brawn's first and only championship success, Brawn becoming the first team to win the Constructors' Championship in their debut season.[1] This was also the only season in which Brawn GP competed before the team was sold to Mercedes for the 2010 season, also making them the only team to win 100% of championships in which they took part. Button was the tenth British driver to win the championship, and following Lewis Hamilton's success in 2008 it was the first time the championship had been won by English drivers in consecutive seasons, and the first time since Graham Hill (1968) and Jackie Stewart (1969) that consecutive championships had been won by British drivers.[2] Also notable was the success of Red Bull Racing, as well as the poor performance of McLaren and Ferrari compared to the previous season.

Ten teams participated in the championship after several rule changes were implemented by the FIA to cut costs to try to minimise the financial difficulties. There were further changes to try to improve the on-track spectacle with the return of slick tyres, changes to aerodynamics and the introduction of kinetic energy recovery systems (KERS) presenting some of the biggest changes in Formula One regulations for several decades.[3]

The Brawn team, formed as a result of a management buyout of the Honda team, won six of the first seven races, their ability to make the most of the new regulations being a deciding factor in the championship. Red Bull Racing caught up in an unpredictable second half of the season,[1] with the season being the first time since 2005 that all participating teams had scored World Championship points. Sebastian Vettel and Button's teammate Rubens Barrichello were his main challengers over the season, winning six races between them to finish in second and third, respectively.

As of 2024, it was the last time a British-licensed constructor won the constructors' title.

  1. ^ a b "Brawn win title in debut F1 year". BBC Sport. BBC. 18 October 2009. Archived from the original on 21 October 2009. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
  2. ^ "Great Button!". Sky Sports. British Sky Broadcasting. 18 October 2009. Archived from the original on 20 October 2009. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
  3. ^ "Newey: Biggest rule changes since 1983". planet-F1.com. 9 February 2009. Archived from the original on 12 February 2009. Retrieved 20 July 2010.