The one-season-wonder story of Brawn GP is by now extremely well-trodden. Perhaps the only remaining unanswered question is who should play Ross Brawn in the inevitable movie.
Therefore I approached David Tremayne’s new “autobiography” of the Brawn BGP 001/02 with a touch of trepidation. I need not have worried, however: If you only buy one book on the Brawn story this is the one to get.
Beautifully designed by Porter Press and accessibly, yet comprehensively, written, this is the complete story of the Brawn GP adventure. From Honda’s shock late 2008 withdrawal we are taken through their stunning championship triumph, Jenson Button’s triumph in the drivers’ title and the team’s sale to Mercedes – plus their star driver’s acrimonious departure to McLaren.
The book is impeccably sourced. Tremayne weaves in all the voices you’d want to hear from in a rounded narrative that doesn’t duck some of the controversies and goes into details that former CEO Nick Fry omitted from his 2019 memoir. Tremayne also gets the pacing spot-on, with just the right amount of contextualisation.
The passage of time also means that the reflections are open and candid in a way that often seems to be missing from contemporary coverage. My chief criticism is the book is lighter on technical detail than the title may suggest – there’s plenty there (especially in the appendices which include period PowerPoint slides on some of the design features), but a Haynes manual this is not. The diagrams which show the research behind the conception of the car’s infamous ‘double diffuser’ are fascinating, however.
Also newly out from Porter Press, in the same series, is Serge Vanbockryck’s autobiography of Porsche 962/88 chassis 962 011. Both sweeping and specific the book covers both Porsche’s Group C glory days, whilst going into the detail you’d want about 962 011’s later life in Interserie and IMSA racing. If you’re the audience for this kind of thing (and I am), then I’d certainly look at moving this towards the top of the wish list.
“Brawn BGP 001/02: The Autobiography of Jenson Button’s world championship winner”
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Author: David Tremayne
Publisher: Porter Press
Published: 2025
Pages: 320
Price: £69
ISBN: 9781913089979
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Trayambak Chakravarty (@major-dev)
23rd February 2025, 9:24
It seems like you have the other casting already decided, Keith! Would love to know who you’d like to play Jenson and Rubens
Coventry Climax
23rd February 2025, 20:48
Not Keith; Ben Evans.
Maybe waiting for the movie is a good idea – if it’s spoken in your language, at least.
Sorry couldn’t resist. I’m not gonna tell you about the size and frequency of my own mistakes though, if you don’t mind.
DonSmee (@david-beau)
23rd February 2025, 12:07
Can you say what medium the book is avaiable in? Hard/soft copy, e-book?
Adrian Hancox (@ahxshades)
23rd February 2025, 16:19
Hardback – a simple search shows anyway
Biggsy
23rd February 2025, 16:55
I don’t know which aspect of the design this line is referring to, but as far as this cover we can see goes, it is most certainly not “beautifully designed”. As a matter of fact, it’s quite on the opposite side.
Coventry Climax
23rd February 2025, 20:39
I never liked Schumacher, but then I don’t care for particular drivers or teams in the first place.
The fact he got a bunch of titles with Ferrari certainly isn’t his doing alone.
That’s where Brawn comes in. Whatever my feelings about the Ferrari/Schumacher lot, one could -and still can- only have deep respect for what Brawn achieved at Ferrari, and with Brawn GP.
But then the man moves into a new role, as Formula 1 managing director, and all of us had high hopes.
The subsequent amount of brown excrement he voiced over that period however, nullifies every bit of respect I ever had for the man. I’m sure he got paid quite nicely for it.
I know the book is written by David Tremayne, but I will not risk Brawn getting one single penny from me, buying the book.
Tony Mansell (@tonymansell)
24th February 2025, 13:05
I know its Monday, but sheesh, unclench
Coventry Climax
24th February 2025, 19:35
23rd was sunday…