Button - "This is a fairytale"

"This is a fairytale ending for the first race." They are the words of Jenson Button after he clinched victory in the 2009 season-opening Australian Grand Prix just weeks after it appeared he might not be competing in Formula 1 that season.

It was the remarkable birth of Brawn GP, resurrected from the Ashes of Honda's decision to withdraw from F1 late in 2008 due to the global credit crisis.

Frantic negotiations ultimately led to Ross Brawn, who had been technical director of Honda Racing, leading a management buy-out, with the team costing him just £1.

Renamed Brawn GP, and after building a car just in time to take part in the final test, the team headed to Australia and conjured one of F1's great fairytale stories.

After out-qualifying team-mate Rubens Barrichello on the Saturday by three-tenths of a second, come race day, Button produced a faultless drive to spearhead a one-two, leading home the Brazilian by 0.807secs.

It was a dream start to a dream season that ultimately culminated in Button claiming his only drivers' title, and Brawn the constructors' championship.

With the obvious exception of F1's inaugural season in 1950, no team has won the titles in their debut campaign.

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

F1 News Today: Kimi Antonelli penalty confirmed as F1 star 'almost certain' to miss Spanish Grand Prix

• 41 minutes ago

Valentino Rossi given F1 tribute at Italian Grand Prix

• Yesterday 22:29

F1's newest circuit is 'a car killer' as teams prepare for chaos

• Yesterday 21:51

FIA announce 30-place grid penalty for Kimi Antonelli at Italian Grand Prix

• Yesterday 20:44

Controversial F1 team boss launches extraordinary McLaren attack after Monaco ruling

• Yesterday 19:43

Red Bull star 'almost certain' to miss Spanish Grand Prix in further injury blow

• Yesterday 18:45