Brawn GP Formula 1 team announced

(Brawn GP BGP001 - Jenson Button)

Within one minute of Big Ben striking midnight, the Honda Motor Company made official one of the worst kept secrets by announcing that all shares of Honda HRF1, the British holding company for the firm’s Formula One effort have been sold to Ross Brawn.

Thus look for Brawn GP to indeed take the green flag at Melbourne this March 29th with current ex-Honda F1 drivers Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello, whom enter their fourth season as teammates, with an astounding 423 starts between them.

The team will indeed utilize customer Mercedes Benz lumps, with “Jense” set to take some exploratory laps behind the wheel of the BGP001 at Silverstone shortly before the team will participate in the final test session next week at Barcelona...

The team seemingly is good to go on its nomenclature, as the team’s website will be Brawngp.com, with NO words of Bernice having any hissy-fits over this... While speculation suggests that former Force India Chief Technical Officer Mike Gascoyne, currently on forced Gardening leave, could potentially take on the role of Technical Director at the newly constituted Brawn GP...

Will Honda F1 become Brawn Racing?

With less than four weeks remaining until this season’s opening round of the F1 Championship in Australia, rumours abound that the management buyout of Honda F1 Racing has gone ahead after rejection of both Richard Branson’s possible bid and Bernie Ecclestone’s offering of $143 million failing, as it now appears that Ross Brawn will lead the team into battle this season under the name of Brawn Racing... As reportedly web domains have been purchased (for humour try searching for brawnracing.com) and Caroline McGrory has been appointed as Secretary, who will be responsible for all legal proceedings of the company, as McGrory is a lawyer and has previously worked for both BAR Honda and Honda F1 Racing.

Interestingly during the USF1 “LUV-Fest” on SPEED, Peter Winsor commented in the extra innings of Wind Tunnel that it would cost Honda $130 million to close the Team, so as the pundits are predicting, look for Honda to remain a silent partner in hopes of repurchasing the team in the future, as it made little sense to pull the plug upon its massive investment...

And like USF1, the Brackley based outfit will run with customer engines, as reportedly Vijay Malia has given his blessing for the Mercedes Benz supply to ross Brawn to go ahead, which seems a tad funny if the Honda links do in fact remain, while USF1 has yet to announce any deals with any FIA approved engine suppliers...

Virgin to the rescue?

As the clock continues ticking down on the impending 2009 Formula 1 season opener in Melbourne, there’s been a flurry of rumours flying about le internets over the current state of the Honda F1 team.

Speculation has suggested just about everything (minus the kitchen sink) including Carlos Slim buying the team, Brazilian Oil money, Bruno Senna being signed, etc. As the perceived notion was that having missed Honda’s Jan. 31st deadline for deals; Nick Frye and Ross Brawn were leading a management buyout of the team from parent company Honda...

Yet, apparently at the eleventh hour, a new bidder has entered the fray, which will potentially see Richard Branson and his Virgin Group outbidding Frye & Brawn’s deal, as even Emperor Bernardo has publicly welcomed Branson’s addition to the F1 circus, claiming he’ll do whatever possible to get hold of Virgin’s money!

And although some pundits are pondering the advantages of Virgin joining the Formula 1 paddock, consider that departing F1 sponsor ING has reported a global marketing presence up tick of 16% during its tenure in the sport, while Branson may be keen to use the sport to his advantage to market his Virgin Fuels, a company targeting commercial aircraft biofuel production, or simply draw brand attention overall and ultimately make a profit upon a future sale-off of the team? (Not to mention perhaps potential write-off?)

The interesting part of this deal if true, is whom will lead the Technical aspect of the operation, as scuttlebutt has linked David Richards in the deal, while reputedly Branson’s next door neighbor and friend is some bloke named Adrian Reynard... Thus would this make Ross Brawn the odd man out? Or just send Nick Frye packing...

Honda quits F1

As noted last week, the Honda Motor Company dropped another bombshell on the F1 community by announcing that it will close down the Brackley based operation if a new suitor isn’t found within the next three months.

James Allen:
“This is a major moment for the sport and I imagine Bernie Ecclestone and Max Mosley will be ringing around frantically this evening (last Thursday) ensuring that the remaining teams are solid.
Toyota are the ones most are nervous about. They may use the withdrawal of their major rival as an excuse to get out, should they feel the conditions demand it.”
(Source: ITV-F1.com)

James Allen: on Honda’s F1 future

Thus, Rubens Barrichello’s revelations that former employer Ferrari did indeed instruct him to render the lead to Michael Schumacher in the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix, which led to the ridiculous “NO Team Orders in F1” rule revision, seems a bit tepid at the moment. But then again, look on the bright side Rubino, at least you didn’t just sign a contract extension with the Honda F1 team like poor “Jense” just did...

Then again, this probably won’t help his marginal chances of remaining with whoever the new concern is, if they’re “Powered by Ferrari,” eh?

Barrichello spills the beans on ’02 Austria GP

Honda leaving F1

WOW! Holy shrinking yen, Batman!

Honda has just dropped another bombshell on the F1 community by announcing that it will close down its Brackley based operation if a new suitor isn’t found within the next three months.

AYE KARUMBA!

Reports of this shocking announcement were spotted all over the internets late Thursday afternoon, while awaiting Honda’s confirmation in Tokyo this Friday morning, as this is apparently another net result of the widening global economic crisis.

Recently, It had been reported in the UK’s Financial Times that Honda Racing F1 spent an astonishing $148 million during the 2007 F1 season, (with only $7m coming from sponsorship) an increase in budget of 22% and with the news of its 32% drop of automobile sales, and no other major entities to shed, along with the squad’s dismal performance the past two seasons, it only makes sense to pull the plug upon this money loosing proposition.

Thus, Honda will once again leave the Formula 1 arena, divesting itself of the ex BAR-Honda entity it took control of in 2005, and will not provide engines to whomever the teams new suitor may be, having to rely upon Ferrari lumps instead. Yet, could backing be secured from the relatively oil rich Middle East, which now has two Grand Prix’s on the calendar...

It’s Official! Honda to quit F1

Honda RA108

Honda officially unveiled its 2008 challenger at the companies Brackley factory on January 29th, although the car first broke cover at Valencia on January 22nd in the hands of Rubens Barrichello before Jenson Button got behind the wheel.

The team’s new test and reserve driver Alex Wurz then got his first taste of the RA108 when he drove it several metres at the official launch party. Like most of its competition, the RA108 is an evolution of its predecessor, yet in Honda’s case hopefully it’s a major evolution after the dismal performance of the RA107.

Honda has reverted back to a variation of its traditional white paint scheme while blending the Earth “Friendly” theme Honda and the rest of the major auto manufacturers are so keen to promote…

Brawn joins Honda

Honda F1 has announced the signing of Ross Brawn as their newly hired Team Principal, responsible for the Day to Day operations of the team, while current Team Boss Nick Fry will stay on as CEO. Fry will now concentrate upon the commercial side of the team, leaving Brawn in charge of turning the team into a championship challenger.

Brawn, who’s spent the past year on “Fishing Sabbatical,” was long rumoured to be seeking a new role at Ferrari where he oversaw Michael Schumacher’s Grand Prix dominance. As Technical Director of both Benetton and Ferrari, Brawn was instrumental in all seven of Schuey’s titles and was part of the “Brain Trust” that followed the German’s move to the Prancing Horse in 1996.

Interestingly Brawn has been out of the spotlight the entire year except for serving as a witness in the “Stepney-Gate” proceedings, as Nigel Stepney had originally hoped to entice Brawn to join him while he was in possession of the 780 pages of documents that ultimately winded up in Mike Coughlin’s hands.

Brawn will begin his tenure at Honda on November 26, planning to work with the current staff on hand and will report directly to Fry.

NOT so green at Honda

I’m sure that everyone by now has heard about Honda’s massive struggles this season to get up to speed with the rest of the F1 frontrunners.

Yet Honda seems to be walloping in the hinterlands towards coming to grip with its Planet Earth RA107 chassis as driver Ruben Barrichello has called it a “Parachute!”

And Jense doesn’t have much good to say about the wayward chassis himself as its given him nothing but grief… Especially during the Friday practice when the “Lump” went “KABLAMOE!”

Apparently Honda’s “Design by Committee” seems to be not working very effectively as its little Sister’s team, “Super Best Friends” continues to outshine the mighty Honda factory team with last year’s RA106.

And it seems a long time ago when Prodrive’s David Richards brought respectability to the BAR squad by clinching second in the Constructor’s championship. Also the firing of Technical Director Geoff Willis seems to have not been such a wise decision…

Honda Turning Green

Interestingly I just had a discussion two weeks ago about the virtues of seeing Formula 1 chassis devoid of the obligatory sponsorship decals and how AWESOME the all black Honda test chassis looked.

But I seriously doubt anybody expected this paint scheme as the new livery for the Honda’s “Planet Earth” RA107. (Actually its done with decals) And I think it’s totally COOL!

Yet while cynics might suggest that Honda has taken this unusual route due to lack of landing any new title sponsors, Adam Cooper’s lengthy commentary: Honda’s World Car gives some pretty good insights on this issue. Meanwhil Honda is already hard at work on producing a revised RA107 in time for the second Grand Prix in Malaysia…

Marco seeing double

Marco Andretti has just made his second trek “Across the Pond” along with his chaperone, none other then Grandpa-pa Mario…

The young IRL phenom has completed testing for Honda Racing in Jerez aboard last year’s Honda RA06. While the team kept a low profile towards the young American’s progress, it was hard to not focus upon Marco’s return… (Especially with grandpa Mario wandering the pits)

While Honda F1 Racing boss Nick Frye stated that there’s no future plans to test Marco any further this year, it’s quite possible that Tony George may hope to trot out the youngster in front of the USGP fans this summer. Honda is also quite keen to use the star power of the Andretti name. Is a Formula 1 drive on the horizon for Marco?

Honda RA107

Honda unveiled its newest creation, the RA107 at Barcelona last week. And to keep the suspense going Honda unveiled the chassis in their winter’s testing scheme of black with a separate February launch to unveil the teams new racing colors…

Rubeins Barrichello gave the RA107 its initial shakedown test while Jenson “Crash” Button was on hand and seems to have healed from his cracked ribs…

To read about Renault's 2007 Launch, see: Renault R27

Honda Blacks Out

In deference to McLaren’s tradition of running it’s interim test cars in founder Bruce McLaren’s “Kiwi Orange.” Honda is sporting a solid black chassis during this years winter testing.
For the upcoming season Formula 1 will be “Tobacco Free,” with no cigarette title sponsorships, nor “fag” logos adorning race cars. The only Constructor not conforming to the Anti-Tobacco universe of Formula 1 will be the Prancing Horse: Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, which will continue in its traditional red and white paint scheme. The Scuderia may be able to run with BAD HABITS decals in selected markets since it’s an Italian Constructor allowing it to “skirt” British regulations…
BAR-Honda’s majority stake holder, BAT (British American Tobacco) campaigned their cars as Lucky Strike/Honda’s. Lucky Strike and 555 are both BAT brands. Upon Honda’s takeover of BAR last year, BAT’s Lucky Strike title sponsorship deal was curtailed… (Renault will also drop its Mild Seven title sponsorship in 2007)
In order to spruce up its image, Honda has hired Simon Fuller to supervise the teams impending makeover. With four F1 Constructors sporting primarily white paint schemes last year, (BMW-Sauber, Honda, Toyota, Williams) hopefully Honda will sport a new unique colour in 2007…
Meanwhile in a further effort to project its environmentally friendly image, (Is this possible from a major automobile manufacturer?) Honda will sport solar panels on its F1 truck transporters and motor homes next season in concert with Honda’s marketing of it’s new spin-off: Honda Soltec Co. Ltd. (Specializing in thin film solar cell technology) Honda Racing boss Nick Fry says that its probably too early to see solar paneling on its 2007 F1 chassis…

Button Banged-Up

Not surprisingly after suffering hairline cracks to two ribs, Jense “Crash” Button missed Formula 1’s first winter test in Barcelona. Button will now remain “grounded” for the remainder of the year spending the holidays drinking eggnog. Button will forgo this week’s upcoming F1 test at Jerez and most likely cancelling his appearance in the upcoming ROC (Race Of Champions) at the Staid de Paris…

“Jense” Cracks Up

Honda Racing has recently revealed that Jenson Button has sustained two cracked ribs from a go karting accident. The go kart testing was part of Honda’s preparations for winter testing prior to the team’s first test at Barcelona this week. Apparently “Jense” has been taking notes from “Sand Dune” Tracy and will not take part in testing at Barcelona…

Klien and Honda?

Apparently Johannes Klien, Christian Klien’s father and manager has been seen spending considerable time with Honda Racing in the paddock at both Shanghai and Suzuka.
Speculation suggests that Klien could become Honda’s test driver next season with current test driver Anthony Davidson expected to become a race driver with super Aguri in 2007.