Brawn GP Formula One Team

It has finally been confirmed that Honda and Ross Brawn have made an agreement to sell Honda to Ross Brawn. Ross Brawn has set up his own team imaginatively titled ‘Brawn GP Formula One Team’.

Brawn GP will be supplied with Mercedes engines for the season. I can only assume that these will be last years engines with Brawns own developments. Let’s face it the engines of last years championship winning car are going to be as good or better than the development of an also run at best engine.

The drivers have been confirmed as Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello. The two drivers have been a driving partnership now for four years and are the most experienced driver line up on the grid with 423 grand prix starts between them. The lions share being Barrichello’s. I’m happy to see this but very surprised that Bruno Senna didn’t bring the financial backing expected to oust Barrichello? Maybe this is a good sign that Brawn is in it to develop a good team and not run a business. As no doubt Barrichello will be a better choice for stability and results. But Brawn has worked with Barrichello for many years at Ferrari as well as at Honda so perhaps it’s more of a case of better the devil you know?

Brawn said: “The past few months have been extremely challenging for the team but today’s announcement is the very pleasing conclusion to the strenuous efforts that have been made to secure its future. Firstly, it is a great shame that having worked with Honda Motor Company for so long we can no longer continue together. I would like to thank Honda for the fantastic co-operation and support we have received throughout this process - particularly those members of the senior management who were closely involved with concluding our agreement - and for the faith they have demonstrated in myself and our team. I would also like to take this opportunity to pay due credit to our staff at Brackley. The levels of motivation and commitment that I have witnessed at the factory deserve the highest praise. I am delighted that Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello will form our race driver line-up for the 2009 season. The vast experience and knowledge that both drivers bring to our team will prove invaluable as we aim to get up to speed in the shortest possible time to be ready for the first race of the season in Melbourne on 29 March. In what will be their fourth season together, their experience with our team in Brackley, our systems and our engineers, will prove a real asset.”

Managing Officer of Honda, Hiroshi Oshima commented: “Since announcing our withdrawal from Formula One racing on December 5 of last year, we have conducted various studies and discussions so that the team can continue its activities as a new team. We are very pleased that we could sell the team to Ross Brawn, with whom we have been partaking in the challenges of F1 competition, and are grateful for his decision. We offer our sincerest wishes for the new team which will be led by Ross.”

Now it remains for Brawn GP to focus its efforts in the last three weeks in the remaining pre-season tests, Barcelona (March 9-12) and Jerez (March15-17).

I wish all at former Honda the best. This is great news for the sport that we haven’t lost another team. I think that if anyone can make a success of a formula one team my money would firmly be on Ross Brawn. The man has lead so many great championship challenges with Ferrari and other teams. Combined with his tactics that are second to none… Remember Barrichello stealing a podium at Silverstone? Pure Brawn.