2009 Formula One World 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] 2009 was 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 ever 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 performances of McLaren and Ferrari compared to the 2008 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.

It would be the last time a British-licensed constructor won the constructors' title until McLaren in 2024.^[4]

The following teams and drivers competed in the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship.^[5] Teams competed with tyres supplied by Bridgestone.

More information Entrant, Constructor ...

Entrant	Constructor	Chassis	Engine	No.	Race Drivers	Rounds
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes	McLaren-Mercedes	MP4-24	Mercedes FO 108W	1	Lewis Hamilton[6]	All
				2	Heikki Kovalainen[7]	All
Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro	Ferrari	F60	Ferrari 056	3	Felipe Massa[8]	1–10
					Luca Badoer[9]	11–12
					Giancarlo Fisichella[10]	13–17
				4	Kimi Räikkönen[11]	All
BMW Sauber F1 Team	BMW-Sauber	F1.09	BMW P86/9	5	Robert Kubica[12]	All
				6	Nick Heidfeld[12]	All
Renault F1 Team[a]	Renault	R29	Renault RS27	7	Fernando Alonso[5]	All
				8	Nelson Piquet Jr.[5]	1–10
					Romain Grosjean[14]	11–17
Panasonic Toyota Racing	Toyota	TF109	Toyota RVX-09	9	Jarno Trulli[15]	All
				10	Timo Glock[16]	1–15
					Kamui Kobayashi[17]	16–17
Scuderia Toro Rosso	Toro Rosso-Ferrari	STR4	Ferrari 056	11	Sébastien Bourdais[18]	1–9
					Jaime Alguersuari[19]	10–17
				12	Sébastien Buemi[20]	All
Red Bull Racing	Red Bull-Renault	RB5	Renault RS27	14	Mark Webber[21]	All
				15	Sebastian Vettel[22]	All
AT&T Williams Racing	Williams-Toyota	FW31	Toyota RVX-09	16	Nico Rosberg[23]	All
				17	Kazuki Nakajima[23]	All
Force India F1 Team	Force India-Mercedes	VJM02	Mercedes FO 108W	20	Adrian Sutil[5]	All
				21	Giancarlo Fisichella[5]	1–12
					Vitantonio Liuzzi[24]	13–17
Brawn GP Formula 1 Team	Brawn-Mercedes	BGP 001	Mercedes FO 108W	22	Jenson Button[5]	All
				23	Rubens Barrichello[5]	All

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The FIA released preliminary technical regulations for the 2009 season on 22 December 2006,^[31] and these were revised several times to accommodate the findings of the Overtaking Working Group (formed in response to concerns that passing in wheel-to-wheel racing was becoming increasingly rare)^[32] and the increasing need for cost-cutting in the sport to minimise financial costs.^[33]

• Slick tyres returned for the first time since they were abolished for the 1998 season. Bridgestone continued to be the sole supplier of tyres, and drivers still had to use both compounds of tyre during a race.^[34] Soft tyres were differentiated by a green marking around the sides of the tyres, rather than a white marking in a groove as used in 2008.^[35] Further, wet tyres were renamed "intermediate" and extreme-weather tyres were renamed "wet".^[36]
• The aerodynamic regulations were radically altered for the 2009 season. The front wings were made lower and wider, while rear wings were changed to be higher and narrower.^[37] As well as the changes in the dimensions of the wings, bodywork became much more regulated with many of the additional components seen in previous seasons (including barge boards, winglets and turning vanes) removed,^[37] making 2009 cars noticeably different in appearance than in previous years. The diffuser at the rear of the car was moved back and upwards. Many other minor chassis components were also standardised. The aim of the new aerodynamic regulations, as well as the reintroduction of slick tyres, was to decrease reliance on aerodynamic downforce and increase mechanical grip with the aim of making wheel-to-wheel racing easier.^[38]
• For the first time, cars were allowed to use driver adjustable bodywork, in the form of adjustable flaps in the front wing. The flaps could be adjusted by up to six degrees, limited to only two adjustments per lap.^[37] Adjustable front wings were designed to improve downforce when following another car, another change designed to improve overtaking.
• Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems, a regenerative braking device designed to recover some of the vehicle's kinetic energy normally dissipated as heat during braking, were introduced for the 2009 season. The recovered energy can be stored electrically, in a battery or supercapacitor, or mechanically, in a flywheel,^[39] for use as a source of additional accelerative power at the driver's discretion by way of a boost button on the steering wheel.^[38] The regulations limit the additional power to around 82 hp (61 kW) of 400kJ for six seconds a lap.^[39] The systems were not made compulsory, and because of concerns about both limited performance gains and safety implications only four teams opted to use the system during the season.
• While the FIA were planning on introducing a budget cap to limit the amount of spending by Formula One teams in 2008,^[40] the amount was not agreed upon and the budget cap idea was dropped. Instead, costs were brought down by a complete ban on in-season testing, a forced reduction in wind tunnel usage, the sharing of more data during race weekends, an increased minimum engine lifespan and gearboxes had to last for four races, and a penalty of five places in the starting grid was applied, should a driver change it during the weekend before the start of the race.^[41]
• Each driver was limited to a maximum of eight engines throughout the season, in addition to four engines for practice/testing purposes; using additional engines resulted in a 10-place grid penalty for each additional engine used. To aid improvements in reliability, the engines were detuned from 19,000 RPM to 18,000 rpm.^[41]
• The rule stating that the pit lane is closed during a safety car period was scrapped in 2009. The rule was introduced in 2007 to prevent drivers rushing back to the pits to refuel, possibly speeding through a danger zone, but software was successfully developed to solve this problem.^[42] The pit lane speed limit was also increased from 50 mph (80 km/h) to 62 mph (100 km/h).
• The FIA initially declared that the driver with the most wins at the end of the season would be the winner of the 2009 Formula One World Championship, but dropped the decision because of opposition from teams and drivers.^[43][44] Formula One Teams Association argued that FIA could not change the rules this close to the season's start without the full agreement of the teams.^[45][46] Other proposals rejected by FIA were the introduction of a new points system with the scale 12–9–7–5–4–3–2–1 and to award medals for first, second and third place.^[36]

FIA President Max Mosley announced dramatic rule changes for the 2009 season in a bid to improve the spectacle of the sport, with the cars undergoing major changes in an effort to increase overtaking. The design changes significantly altered the design of the cars, incorporating wider and lower front wings, taller and narrower rear wings, and a reduction on aerodynamic bodywork.^[37] Also introduced were slick tyres and Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems, as well as implementing cost-cutting measures in a response to the rising costs of competing.^[47]

Honda announced in December 2008 they would be leaving Formula One with immediate effect, as a result of the automotive industry crisis.^[48][49] After a winter of uncertainty, it was confirmed on 5 March 2009 that the team would compete in the 2009 season as Brawn GP, with Mercedes engines, following a management buyout led by team principal Ross Brawn, and would retain the services of both Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello as drivers.^[50][51] Anthony Davidson, who competed for the Honda-backed Super Aguri team before their early withdrawal in 2008, joined Brawn as a test driver.

Force India joined Brawn GP in using the Mercedes engines by signing a five-year deal until 2013, having ended their previous supply contract from Ferrari.^[52] The retirement of Red Bull Racing driver David Coulthard led to the appointment of Sebastian Vettel as his replacement,^[53] who left the Scuderia Toro Rosso team after a successful previous season including winning the Italian Grand Prix. Toro Rosso, a team designed to develop new Formula One drivers, saw co-owner Gerhard Berger sell his half-stake back to Red Bull, claiming that the new regulations would "leave no room for improvement for a small team like STR", Franz Tost took over as team boss.^[54] Filling Vettel's race seat in Toro Rosso was Sébastien Buemi, who as part of the Red Bull Junior Team competed for Trust Team Arden in the GP2 Series.^[20]

The World Drivers' Championship would be decided in the traditional manner of points scored after Bernie Ecclestone's idea that the driver who won the most races be declared as the champion was scrapped following protests from the Formula One Teams Association.^[45] The teams were less successful in their attempts to have the long-running French and Canadian Grands Prix kept on the calendar,^[55] with the organisers of both events pulling out due to financial issues.^[56][57][58] The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix made its debut appearance as the last round of the season, at the Hermann Tilke-designed Yas Marina Circuit.^[59] The race, starting at sunset, was Formula One's first day-night race.^[60]

Testing

The first multi-team testing session took place at Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona in November 2008, two weeks after the end of previous season.^[61] All teams, except Toyota, took part in the testing session where some teams tested their new aerodynamics package and slick tyres.^[62] The new look cars did not suit everyone's taste, with BMW Sauber's test driver, Christian Klien, labelling the car the ugliest car he'd ever seen.^[63]

The first 2009 test was held by Bahrain International Circuit, Bahrain on 16–19 February, and the second and final testing was held by Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Spain on 9–12 March. The final test featured for the first time Brawn GP, who made an immediate impact by leading the times early in the day. The test was the first in which all teams used their 2009 cars and had BMW Sauber leading the times whilst Brawn GP were fourth.^[64] On day three, Brawn GP's Jenson Button was fastest by just over one second to Ferrari's Felipe Massa,^[65] while Button's teammate Rubens Barrichello went even faster the next day. At the other end of the timing sheets, reigning champion Lewis Hamilton's McLaren team were struggling to adapt to the new regulations, often 1.5 seconds off the pace.^[66] Massa stated he had never seen McLaren so far behind.^[67]

A major source of controversy throughout the winter season were the rear diffusers. Three teams – Toyota, Williams and Brawn GP – launched their cars with a diffuser that uses the rear crash structure in order to generate additional downforce, labelled "double diffusers".^[68] These designs were quickly protested, and just days after the cars were unveiled, rival teams asked the FIA for a clarification on the matter.^[69]

On the Wednesday of the season opening race in Australia, an official complaint was launched by the seven other teams against the rear diffusers of the Williams FW31, Toyota TF109 and the Brawn BGP 001 saying that they were illegal.^[70] The FIA scrutineers disagreed, declaring the cars legal.^[71] The other six teams filed an unsuccessful appeal which was heard on 14 April 2009 – the week prior to round three of the championship, the Chinese Grand Prix.^[72]

The season opened at the Australian Grand Prix, won by Jenson Button with teammate Rubens Barrichello in second, giving the team a 1–2 on its début. Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel had been running in second until he collided with BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica. The accident meant the race finished behind the safety car, with Toyota's Jarno Trulli eventually classified third despite McLaren's false protest he had illegally overtaken Lewis Hamilton.^[73] Reigning champion Hamilton was disqualified from the Australian race for lying to the stewards and at the following Malaysian Grand Prix there were reports he was on the verge of quitting.^[74] The race was equally dramatic, being stopped because of monsoon-like conditions, meaning only half points were awarded for only the fifth time in F1 history. Button mastered the changing conditions for his second win, while quick starting Nico Rosberg dropped to eighth when the race was stopped.^[75] In the interval between races, the controversial double diffusers, used by Brawn, Williams and Toyota, were declared legal by the FIA, ending the fight over their use.^[76] The Chinese race also took place in wet conditions, with the rain throughout the duration of the race necessitating a safety car start and causing several accidents. Vettel led teammate Mark Webber to Red Bull's first win in Formula One, ahead of the two Brawns and McLarens.

Dry conditions at Bahrain saw the Toyota team gain the front of the grid, but Button managed to fight up from a fourth-place start, and overtook race leader Timo Glock on his first pit stop. Hamilton and Räikkönen, in fourth and sixth respectively, gave their 2008 championship winning teams the best finishes of a disappointing season start.^[77] The Spanish Grand Prix was a battle between the Brawn teammates, with Barrichello getting ahead of polesitter Button while a first lap incident forced the retirement of four drivers. Button followed a different pit-stop strategy and passed Barrichello during his stop, leading Brawn's second one-two of the season.^[78] Red Bull was the closest team to Brawn finishing third and fourth, while Felipe Massa's fuel shortage lost him places as he slowed to finish the race. Button won in dominant fashion at Monaco, leading the majority of the race from pole position ahead of his teammate Barrichello and Räikkönen, who scored Ferrari's first podium in 2009. At the Turkish Grand Prix Vettel started on pole but lost the position to Button on the first lap. Button went on to win, followed by Webber and a closely pursuing Vettel. Barrichello's car developed a gearbox problem, and incidents with Heikki Kovalainen and Adrian Sutil resulted in Brawn's first retirement of the season. By winning six out of the first seven races, Button had opened up a 26-point lead on his teammate, with Vettel a further six points behind.^[79]

The British Grand Prix was seen as a turning point, being dominated by Red Bull with Vettel leading home Webber, in dry conditions. Button was not on the podium for the first time this season, finishing sixth. Red Bull also dominated the following German Grand Prix with Webber taking his first pole and race win, despite being given a drive through penalty. Ferrari were also showing signs of improvement, Felipe Massa finishing third in what would be his final race of the season. He was hospitalised after being hit on the helmet by a flying spring when he was travelling at 162 mph in qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix.^[80] The accident overshadowed the race, with a lightly fueled Fernando Alonso on pole retiring early in the race, which was won by Lewis Hamilton. Jaime Alguersuari finished his début race ahead of Buemi, the Toro Rosso test driver replacing the fired Sébastien Bourdais.^[81] Post-race, the Renault team received a suspension for the European Grand Prix, for an incident where Alonso's tyre came loose on the race track following a pit-stop error.^[82] An appeal overturned the decision, and the team raced in Valencia.^[83]

During the summer break, BMW Sauber announced their withdrawal from Formula One racing due to poor results and lack of financial sustainability.^[84] The team would compete until the end of the season, while BMW attempted to sell the organisation. Seven-time champion Michael Schumacher was originally set to replace the injured Massa, but the seat was taken by test driver Luca Badoer due to Schumacher's neck injuries.^[85][86] Also replaced was Renault driver Nelson Piquet Jr., who complained of unfair treatment by team management,^[87] in favour of GP2 driver Romain Grosjean.^[88]

The European Grand Prix in Valencia provided the first win for Rubens Barrichello after Hamilton lost the lead with an error in the pits;^[89] he finished second while both Red Bulls failed to score. At the Belgian Grand Prix Giancarlo Fisichella gained Force India's first pole position, and his second-place finish behind Kimi Räikkönen gave their first points. Button's title charge was undermined by poor qualifying and a crash, involving him, Hamilton, Alguersuari and Grosjean, ending their races. Following the race Badoer, who had qualified and finished last in both races, was replaced with Giancarlo Fisichella after his performance at the Belgian race.^[10] Vitantonio Liuzzi in turn took the vacant Force India drive.^[90] Brawn returned to form in Italy, with Barrichello leading home the team's fourth 1–2 of the season. Lewis Hamilton crashed on the penultimate lap, but came back by winning the next race at Singapore. Webber's crash ended his chance of winning the championship. Vettel kept the opportunity of winning the Drivers' title with a dominant display in the Japanese Grand Prix, with Toyota's Trulli gaining what would prove to be Toyota's final podium before their withdrawal at the end of the season. Toyota teammate Glock was injured during qualifying, and a cracked vertebra meant he was replaced by reserve Kamui Kobayashi for the final two races.^[91]

The Drivers' and Constructors' championships were both decided at the penultimate race in Brazil. Storm-affected qualifying at Interlagos gave Barrichello pole during Formula One's longest qualifying session,^[92] while title rivals Button and Vettel started from 14th and 16th respectively. During the first lap, three incidents led to the retirement of three cars and a fire in the pit-lane, with Button taking advantage to move up the grid. Button fought up to fifth position by the race end, securing enough points to clinch the title.^[93] Mark Webber took the lead after Barrichello pitted and won the race, followed by Robert Kubica, to give BMW Sauber their joint best result of their final season and his only podium result in 2009. Lewis Hamilton completed the top three after starting 17th on the grid, moving him and McLaren above Kimi Räikkönen and Ferrari respectively in the championships.^[93] The inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, taking place at sunset, rounded out the season, with another win for Vettel and Red Bull's fourth 1–2 result of the year, awarding Vettel and the team second place in both championships.