The successful Brabham BT52, which allowed Piquet to win his second world title in 1983 and was reintroduced with few changes in 1984, was once again used as the foundation for designing the new Brabham BT54. The car was entrusted to the usual Brazilian champion Nelson Piquet and to the young French driver François Hesnault who, after three retirements and one failure to qualify, was replaced from the fifth race onward by Swiss driver Marc Surer.
BRABHAM BT54, Nelson Piquet
Brands Hatch, British GP 1985
With the BT54, the creative spark of South African engineer Gordon Murray seemed to have run out, as the new car adopted the same mechanical base as the previous BT53. The only real innovations came from chief designer David North, who created a similarly low and sleek design but with longer side pods and, more notably, a more tapered rear section to enhance the Coandă effect and recover the lost aerodynamic downforce. Naturally, the additional wings used in 1984, and later banned by the federation, disappeared from the sides of the rear wing.
BRABHAM BT54, François Hesnault
Montecarlo, Monaco GP 1985
Despite the elongated side pods, the weight distribution was shifted toward the rear to improve traction, particularly since, starting this season, Ecclestone's team no longer had access to Michelin radial tires. Unlike other teams formerly supplied by the French manufacturer, Brabham opted for Italian Pirelli tires, perhaps hoping for preferential treatment as the only major team using them. This choice turned out to be a critical mistake, as the poor performance of the Pirelli tires became the true Achilles' heel of the BT54.
BRABHAM BT54, Marc Surer
Monza, Italian GP 1985
The new single-seater from Bernie Ecclestone’s team was powered by the BMW M12/13 L4 Turbo, the most powerful engine of the 1985 season alongside Honda's V6 used by Williams. However, it could not effectively put that power to the ground. The car’s competitiveness was often hampered by the Italian tires struggling to reach optimal operating temperature, mainly because all pre-season testing, by Piquet's decision, took place in Brazil during the South American summer. While Pirellis performed well in heat, they struggled in the cooler European temperatures. Unsurprisingly, the car's only win came during the French Grand Prix, held on an extremely hot July day, during which Surer also achieved the season's top speed, reaching 338 km/h on the long Mistral straight. Persistent understeer issues led Murray to modify the front suspension’s push-rod system without significant improvements. On twistier circuits, additional winglets were mounted at the end of the side pods to enhance traction.
BRABHAM BT54, Nelson Piquet
Zandvoort, Dutch GP 1985
Brabham's disappointing season ended with only 26 points and fifth place in the Constructors' Championship. Piquet, with just one win and one second place, decided to leave the British team after seven years, 12 victories, and two World Championships. For Brabham, 1985 marked the beginning of a slow but steady decline, as its "patron" Bernie Ecclestone became increasingly absorbed in his new, more lucrative role as "supreme leader" of the Formula 1 circus.
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