Brawn GP Stirs F1 Pot: New rules for 2009; new results

The Formula 1 world turned upside down, down under with the 2009 season opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on the weekend. Thanks to controversial new rules governing both aerodynamics and tires, plus the optional use of the KERS power augmentation systems, F1 is off to its most refreshing start in many a year - not that insiders didn't have an inkling of what was in store for Albert Park.

In a nutshell, Brawn GP were the dominant players in Melbourne with drivers Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello qualifying 1-2 and finishing in that same order in Sunday's race. Lay all that at the feet of Ross Brawn whose curriculum vitae reads seven F1 world driving championships - two with Benetton, five with Ferrari and all with Michael Schumacher - plus the 1991 World Sports Car title with Jaguar. Brawn's organizational acumen, vision and total grasp of the business of F1 played out in keeping a team in transition focused.

First was a decision Brawn made last season - his first at the helm of Honda F1 - to call the team's 2008 car a bad job and to concentrate his R&D resources on the 2009 car, which gave them a huge leg up on the top teams that contended the '08 world championship down to the final turn of the final lap of the final race of the season.

Next, Brawn consolidated his control by leading a management buyout of Honda F1 under the most friendly terms, given the unsettled international auto market.

Next Brawn and partner Nick Fry secured the financial backing of British industrialist Sir Richard Branson and his Virgin brands conglomerate. After the Melbourne result, Branson might be tempted to think racing is easy. Brawn will have to keep his new mentor grounded.

Finally, Brawn GP - plus Toyota F1 and Williams F1 - did not participate in the proceedings of the technical committee that drew up the radical 2009 aerodynamic regulations. As a result, all three teams came up with a rear diffuser design that greatly improved rear downforce. The other seven teams - claiming a better understanding of the "spirit" of the rule - found themselves at a distinct disadvantage in Australia and have appealed the ruling that allowed the "outlaw" diffuser to continue in competition. Add in Brawn GP's extended development program of the '09 car and the results are no great surprise.

So given FIA mogul Max Moseley's well-documented aversion to automaker's participation in F1 - control and money being the main issues - what does the "Brawn lesson" forebode?

On the one hand, a non-factory owned team (not even heavily backed) has stolen the march on the 2009 season. In the natural flow of F1 racing the factory teams - Ferrari, Renault, BMW-Sauber, McLaren-Mercedes - would allocate the necessary resources to reel in Brawn and then beat up on each other. But with auto industry money so tight, will that happen?

Last year, the F1 playing field was level at the top for Ferrari and McLaren. Right now, everyone is chasing the independent Brawn GP. The four factory teams even appear to be a half step behind fellow automaker Toyota, plus Williams - both with the diffuser advantage - and Red Bull fielding a brilliant new Adrian Newey creation.

So how will the FIA rule on the "technically legal but spiritually offending" diffusers next month? That vote may well define just what's in the FIA's heart of hearts, vis-à-vis factory-owned teams versus independent teams.

Stay tuned.