F1 factories: No. 1 Brackley, evolving from BAR to Mercedes

Between two Grand Prix races, FanF1 is launching a series dedicated to the history of the most iconic Formula 1 factories. The first episode highlights the Brackley factory, which is now home to Mercedes.

The end of an era and the birth of the factory (1999-2005)

By the end of the 1990s, the glorious Tyrrell team was on its last legs. Financial difficulties forced Ken Tyrrell's team to close its doors, leaving behind an impressive track record: three world titles, won by Jackie Stewart in 1971 and 1973, and the constructors' title in 1971.

British American Tobacco took over, launching British American Racing (BAR) with the support of 1997 champion Jacques Villeneuve, his manager Craig Pollock, and Reynard founder Adrian Reynard. Rather than simply renting premises, the tobacco giant commissioned a brand-new complex in northwest London. In 1998, the Brackley facility, still in use today, was established at Reynard Park, in tribute to Adrian Reynard's early involvement. The 1999 season marked BAR's official debut. The first buildings were designed by Adrian Reynold, and the new team set itself an ambitious goal: to challenge McLaren and Ferrari for the drivers' and constructors' titles. To prepare, BAR hired 220 employees (plus 280 from the Reynard subsidiary sharing the site). Three engineers, Adrian Reynold, Malcolm Oastler, and Willem Toet, were tasked with designing the BAR PR01, a car built to win. The reality proved tougher: the car failed to score any points in its first year, with only modest gains in subsequent seasons.

Honda takes the helm at Brackley (2006-2008)

In the early 2000s, a rivalry developed between Jordan and BAR for Honda's official support. In the end, the Anglo-American team won out, and the Japanese manufacturer bought the entire team. Honda inherited a modest record—15 podiums and two pole positions, but no wins—and moved into the Brackley factory at the end of 2005, its first large-scale initiative since 1968. The British infrastructure remained intact, but the colors and logos were replaced by the Japanese flag for the next three seasons.

The year 2006 looked promising: fourth place in the constructors' championship and Jenson Button's first victory in Hungary. The following years were quite different: 2007 proved disastrous and 2008 even worse. Even Rubens Barrichello's podium finish at Silverstone and the arrival of Ross Brawn failed to turn the team around before 2009. Two titles, then disappearance (2009) The global financial crisis forced Honda to withdraw from F1, leaving the Brackley team in limbo. Ross Brawn salvaged what remained of the team and renamed it Brawn GP. The workforce grew to 450 people, double its original size. With the new aerodynamic rules for 2009 and a Mercedes engine (previously exclusive to McLaren), Brawn GP set out to conquer both championships. The gamble paid off: Jenson Button won seven races and the drivers' championship, while Barrichello added two wins to his tally, taking advantage of the powerful double diffuser. Ironically, much of the car's development had been carried out under Honda's supervision.

Birth of a war machine (2010-present)

Two quick changes of ownership followed. After Brawn, Mercedes-Mercedes took over Brackley, marking the German brand's first factory team since 1955 and the second time the site had hosted an official car manufacturer. This era began with the return of Michael Schumacher, supported by his German compatriot Nico Rosberg for three seasons.

From 2010 onwards, with the exception of a relatively quiet 2011, Mercedes F1 enjoyed an inexorable rise: regular podium finishes, race wins and, from 2014 onwards, undisputed dominance thanks to the fierce duel between Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, which lasted until Hamilton's retirement at the end of 2016. The Brackley complex has been home to four separate teams since its inception in 1999, producing iconic machines such as the Brawn BGP 001 and all Mercedes cars of the hybrid era. Today, the Brackley premises cover approximately 60,000 square meters. Inside, some 950 employees work around the clock, devoting approximately 250,000 hours per year to the cars. These resources support a relentless pursuit of excellence, a pursuit that has resulted in a world title every season since 2014.