REPORT: Honda F1 team to be taken over by Brawn Sport
The former Honda F1 team has a white knight, and his name is Ross Brawn. The man originally brought in by former team principal Nick Fry to help turn the struggling team around has ended up taking control of it, along with four partners thought to include Fry and financial director Nigel Kerr. Brawn and Fry have been reported to have an equal share in the team, but it will most certainly be run by Brawn.
Some reports claim that the team will be called Brawn Sport, while others say it will be called Brackley F1 – Brackley being the site of the team's UK headquarters. Whatever it's called, the team has been funded by an advance on its Formula 1 television rights money, and Honda. The carmaker decided it would be better and cheaper to give the new team money than to close up shop and pay several hundred severance packages.
Jenson Button has taken a pay cut to remain with the team, but his teammate hasn't been named. With recent events, Bruno Senna is thought to be out of the running so that Rubens Barrichello can provide continuity and experience. The team's Mercedes engines have already been paid for and installed, and a shakedown is scheduled for this Thursday at Silverstone. For F1 fans, it means there'll be another team in what is looking like a fascinating season.
[Source: Daily F1 | Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
hyundaifans.com 9:46AM (3/02/2009)
Gosh, i hope this is true! Ross Brawn is that guy!
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AZZO45b 11:00AM (3/02/2009)
It is... the Ross Brawn story is about 5 days old.
I just hope the team is BF1 (Brackley F1) & not BS (Brawn Sport)!!!
danrm 9:54AM (3/02/2009)
This could be interesting. I think with the rules changes this year, the racing should be close. This is HIS first car. Let's hope his gut is right.
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autoblog 10:08AM (3/02/2009)
I'm really surprised that Branson's bid did not win out. No complaints about Ross, but Virgin in F1 would have been a whole lotta fun!
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Franz 11:06AM (3/02/2009)
It's not that Branson's bid never won, he withdrew it. He basically said F1 needs to have more cost effective measures in place (helping to ensure long-term viability) before he takes a stab at it. I wouldn't be surprised if we saw a Virgin team next season.
Frank 10:09AM (3/02/2009)
Honda financially supporting an F1 team that uses Mercedes engines? That must hurt.
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hashiryu 10:41AM (3/02/2009)
Autoblog treats F1 worse than a bastard child. Week old reports, seriously, why do you guys even bother?
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Majarvis 11:18AM (3/02/2009)
I agree. They're pretty useless at covering F1, aren't they?
ImSteevin 11:23AM (3/02/2009)
OH, SNAP!
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Sam 1:23PM (3/02/2009)
Nice pic, Z-Cars R1 rear engine mini?
Tasty.
Travis R 11:26AM (3/02/2009)
I think Ross Brawn should call the team Brawndo. "It's got electrolytes!"
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lesspeed 3:01PM (3/02/2009)
Finally, a clear sign more F1 cars will be at Melbourne, and that a new F1 team run by veteran Brawn will certainly liven up the field. Fry moving into the background will only help as his tenure with Honda, quite sadly, is partially why they are in the first place. Now, all we need is more USF1 info and a bigger grid is shaping up. Seems like the F1 of old, almost. http://www.f1qa.com
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