The most successful driver Formula One has ever seen came back from a three-year retirement to drive the successor of last year’s world championship car—and had his worst-ever season amid, arguably, F1's most exciting season. What went wrong?

A fascinating profile of Brawn GP’s main man from 2001 reveals a ruthless drive for team victory—and a dislike for the kind of public bickering his driver Barrichello has just done.