Formula 1 News

Honda sells former F1 team to Brawn GP 

Honda Motor Company Limited and former Team Principal Ross Brawn, confirmed earlier today that they have reached agreement to secure the future of the former Honda Racing F1 Team. With immediate effect, the Japanese manufacturer will pass ownership to Ross Brawn, Team Principal of the new Brawn GP F1 Team.

The Brawn GP F1 Team has agreed a partnership with Mercedes-Benz to supply the team with its 2.4 litre Mercedes-Benz FO108W F1 engines. Brawn GP also confirmed that experienced drivers Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello will form once again the team’s race driver line-up for the 2009 season.

“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,” said Brawn GP Team Principal Ross Brawn.

“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,” continued Brawn.

“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,” he added.

“It would be impossible to mention all of the people without whom today’s announcement may not have been possible, however I would like to express particular appreciation for the support we have received from Mercedes-Benz Motorsport, the FIA, FOM, FOTA, BERR (the UK’s Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform), Bridgestone, our other team partners and our many fans the world over. The journey ahead will be challenging but exciting and we know we can count on their continued enthusiasm for our team and its ambitions.”

“Since announcing our withdrawal from Formula One racing on December 5 of last year – said Hiroshi Oshima, Managing Officer of Honda Motor Company Limited – 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.”