The BT50 was the first Brabham with a turbocharged engine. Bernie Ecclestone's team concluded an agreement with BMW, which had long wanted to enter Formula 1. The BT50, used in 1982, was used to test this 4-cylinder engine that would become very competitive in 1983, with the BT52. During 1982, Brabham still used part of the old Cosworth engine BT49, due to reliability problems encountered on the BT50. With the BT50 Piquet won in Canada. The other Brabham driver in 1982 was Riccardo Patrese.