The Brawn Story - The Man and The Team That Turned Formula 1 Upside-Down

2nd hand book in excellent / like new condition

By: Christopher Hilton .

Ross Brawn became the colossus of Grand Prix racing in 2009 when the team that bears his name won the constructors' title — so prized among the teams — and enabled Jenson Button to become World Champion.

This achievement was unprecedented even by the standards of Formula 1 because, ten months before, the whole team — owned by Honda — faced almost immediate extinction. Brawn, engineer and master strategist, had never considered owning a team or even wanted to. He tried to find buyers and in the end faced a simple choice: buy it himself or see it close. He bought it.

This was the beginning of a season drawn into extremes. Button dominated absolutely at the beginning so that, after a lifetime of waiting, the championship seemed to be tumbling headlong into his grasp. Then, almost mysteriously, the winning ebbed away and, as it did, his teammate Rubens Barrichello, another who'd waited a lifetime, began to drive like a champion.

Behind it all stood the colossus: tall, broad-shouldered, softly spoken, invariably genial and to many who follow Formula 1 a familiar presence — yet a stranger. He came from what he calls a 'Coronation Street' background and how many knew that? He enjoyed slot car racing as a lad, became an engineering apprentice at Harwell, and in 1976 joined Frank Williams's GP team as a machinist, becoming employee number 11.

This is the remarkable story of the big bear, as he is affectionately known, and his team, seen through his own eyes and the eyes of those who've known him. It is also a full recreation of the 2009 season, race by race, with Brawn's insights threaded through. It is, finally, the story of many men and women — because, even after drastic economies, Brawn GP still had more than 400 employees.

They believed they could turn Formula 1 upside-down and did so one immortal October afternoon at Interlagos when strong men cried, Ross Brawn among them.

Christopher Hilton has written many bestselling books about Formula 1, including notable biographies of Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher.

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