The conclusion of the 2013 Formula One season heralded the chequered flag of the technical regulations which came into place in 2009 and have since remained largely stable.
It also drew a curtain on the V8 era, which commenced in 2006.
The fifth and final season of this version of F1 was ultimately a fizzer, dominated by a scrawny German, driving for an energy drinks company, ensuring the last few years will forever be remembered as the era of the finger.
Thus it is more appropriate to review the culmination of these seasons rather than focussing on the one just gone, which many will be loath to remember.
94 races took place over these seasons, during which outfits McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes, Williams and Lotus each greeted the chequered flag first at some point.
Yet none of these claimed the ultimate prize, while only two drivers achieved greatness.
Brawn GP’s 2009 triumph is something dreams are made of.
Having risen from the ashes of Honda’s failed campaign and led by Ross Brawn, who bought the operation for the symbolic £1, Jenson Button cast aside his mediocre past, winning six of the first seven events, thanks in large part to the controversial double diffuser, before seeing off the man and team who have subsequently dominated the sport to this day.
Brawn was duly bought out by Mercedes, leaving the squad with eight victories from 17 events – an enviable strike rate of 47%, and boasting a 100% success rate in drivers’ and constructors’ titles.
Despite luring seven-time champion Michael Schumacher out of retirement upon returning, the German marque has never reached the lofty heights set by its predecessor.
Red Bull entered Formula One in 2005 in their own right, having spent years sponsoring Sauber, with a reputation as an energy drinks company and extreme sports enthusiasts, who increased their involvement in the sport with a missive to… sell more energy drinks.
Their first few campaigns did little to change this notion, coupled with the notorious ‘Energy Station’ attracting more attention than their on track exploits.
It wasn’t until Adrian Newey joined the stable and had a direct influence on the car that this impression began to change.
By 2009, with the new regulations, they finally had a car capable of success, and six victories during this campaign paved the way for a style of dominance comparable to the Ferrari golden era a decade earlier.
Though nobody knew it at the time, the sport was about to be struck by a cyclone, its name – Sebastian Vettel…
Bayden Westerweller
Roar Guru
Cheers Mark! We're lucky not to be discussing Red Bull and SV as five-time champions right now, had the Brawn double diffuser been outlawed at the first race in '09, as there's no doubting as a package, the RB5 was a far superior car to the Brawn. As for Button, he seems to revel when the car is tailored exactly to his understeer-happy style. The 2011 and 2012 McLaren's were built around him, and he subsequently beat or took it right up to Hamilton. Otherwise he tends to get mired in the pack as was the case this season with the pull-rod layout. There's no doubting however his worthiness as World Champion, he did what he had to when he had an advantage, whether he wins another is questionable...
Bayden Westerweller
Roar Guru
Honda pretty much bankrolled the '09 campaign, the car was essentially a Honda with a new paint job and a Mercedes engine. Merc culled many staff the following season, and their contribution in '09 was indeed negligible beyond free engine supply. However, there's no doubting that 2009 on-track can be described as a fairytale.
Mat Coch
Roar Guru
Have you ever wondered how Brawn afforded that 2009 campaign and its management ended up with a tidy lump in their pockets at the end of it? It wasn't all Mercedes money, and it wasn't such a fairy tale at Brackley.
Mark Young
Roar Guru
Three F1 articles on the one day! These are truly golden days on The Roar!! Nice Summary Bayden! Looking back on 2009, I am struck by how much Newey, Red Bull and Vettel just nailed the package. On the Grid for that first race in Melbourne, all the talk was the fairy tale of the two Brawns on the front row, but right behind them was Sebastian. It has been an unprecedented 5 year period where, bar the start of 2009, one car has just been a class above. Interesting about Button, I am a big fan, but there is still conjecture about where he sits among the best on the grid. World Champion, but attributed mainly to his car. A multitude of anonymous races where he toddles around in the midfield, yet outscores and matches Lewis Hamilton over three seasons at McLaren.