'The Impossible Formula 1 Story': Brawn GP documentary showcases stunning championship run
Netflix's five seasons of the "Drive to Survive" Formula 1 docudrama is widely credited with boosting popularity of the sport in the U.S. in the last few years. The United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas became the best-attended race on the Formula 1 calendar in 2021 and 2022. While this year saw a slight dip in attendance, an estimated 432,000 people attended the race in Austin.
Now, ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix this weekend, casual and longtime Formula 1 fans have another documentary series to watch, brought to you by Keanu Reeves.
Reeves is the host and executive producer of "Brawn: The Impossible Formula 1 Story", a new four-part series on the 2009 Brawn GP Formula 1 team.
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What is "Brawn: The Impossible Formula 1 Story" about?
The documentary details one of the more incredible stories from Formula 1 in the last few decades.
The Great Recession caused automaker Honda to withdraw its team from the Formula 1 grid after the 2008 season. Honda had re-joined the sport in 2000 to some success but couldn't continue to back the $300 million team due to worldwide economic issues. Instead of shutting down the entire operation, Honda executives sold the team to former technical director Ross Brawn, famously for £1 (the equivalent of $2.04 in 2023).
The newly-badged Brawn GP competed in 2009 with a reduced budget from Honda and engines from Mercedes-Benz. On a tight budget and facing Formula 1 powers at the time like Ferrari and McLaren, Brawn GP won six of the first seven races of the season en route to the 2009 drivers and constructors world championships.
The documentary takes the viewers through the season's action on- and off-track. While the team piled up wins throughout the season, other teams questioned the Brawn GP car's legality.
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Who is in "Brawn: The Impossible Formula 1 Story"?
Reeves narrates and interviews those key to the 2009 championship victory as well as other prominent people of the Formula 1 paddock at the time. Here's who is featured in the four-part series:
Keanu Reeves, actor and series host
Ross Brawn, Brawn GP owner and former Honda technical director
Jenson Button, 2009 Formula 1 drivers' world champion
Rubens Barrichello, former Ferrari, Honda, and Brawn GP driver
Bernie Ecclestone, former Formula 1 CEO
Nick Fry, Brawn GP and former Mercedes Formula One Team CEO
Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing team principal
Luca di Montezemolo, former Ferrari chairman
How you can watch "Brawn: The Impossible Formula 1 Story"
The four-part series is available to watch on Hulu as of Wednesday, Nov. 15. The four episodes are around an hour long each. It's available with a Disney+ subscription.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Impossible Formula 1 Story on Hulu tracks Brawn GP's rise in 2009
