Fry: Brawn budget safe for 2009

Source: www.planet-f1.com

Despite not yet signing a title sponsor, Brawn GP's CEO Nick Fry has revealed that the team's budget is secure for this year's Championship.

After purchasing the team from Honda just weeks before the start of the season, Brawn signed the Virgin Group as their first main sponsor. And although Richard Branson has revealed that his company is keen to become Brawn's title sponsor, the team has yet to make a decision.

But despite lacking the financial boost that would come from a title sponsor, Fry insists the Championship leaders have the funds needed to see out the season and continue developing their car.

"There is no issue whatsoever with funding through this year," he said.

"Even if we didn't get another penny in sponsorship we'd be able to do what we need to do.

"We are using our money wisely and that means spending it on the performance of the car and the whole team, including Ross and I, going EasyJet - that's how it should be, that's what you do in constrained economic environments.

"But as far as development of the car goes we are in good shape."

The CEO, though, did add that Brawn are "very close" to agreeing new deals with other sponsors as well as continuing talks with Virgin.

"We are very close to several commercial agreements," he said.

"I am sure other teams are interested in Virgin and I would expect them to look with others. But we are continuing discussions with Virgin and we are talking to many others as well."



Despite not yet signing a title sponsor, Brawn GP's CEO Nick Fry has revealed that the team's budget is secure for this year's Championship.


After purchasing the team from Honda just weeks before the start of the season, Brawn signed the Virgin Group as their first main sponsor. And although Richard Branson has revealed that his company is keen to become Brawn's title sponsor, the team has yet to make a decision.


But despite lacking the financial boost that would come from a title sponsor, Fry insists the Championship leaders have the funds needed to see out the season and continue developing their car.


"There is no issue whatsoever with funding through this year," he said.


"Even if we didn't get another penny in sponsorship we'd be able to do what we need to do.


"We are using our money wisely and that means spending it on the performance of the car and the whole team, including Ross and I, going EasyJet - that's how it should be, that's what you do in constrained economic environments.


"But as far as development of the car goes we are in good shape."


The CEO, though, did add that Brawn are "very close" to agreeing new deals with other sponsors as well as continuing talks with Virgin.


"We are very close to several commercial agreements," he said.


"I am sure other teams are interested in Virgin and I would expect them to look with others. But we are continuing discussions with Virgin and we are talking to many others as well."


'Beating Rubens is proof of how good Jenson is'

Ross Brawn reckons the fact that Jenson Button is beating Rubens Barrichello is proof of how good the British driver really is.

Button has already won five grands prix this season - and we are only six races into the Championship, giving the Brit a healthy 16-point lead over his team-mate while his next closest rival is 28 points behind him.

But given Button's disastrous build-up to this season with Brawn, it has opened the debate over how much of the success belongs to the car and how much to the driver.

Brawn, though, reckons one only has to compare Button's results to Barrichello's to understand just how good the Brit really is.

"You have to remember that Rubens is a tremendous reference. Rubens had his occasions when he beat Michael (Schumacher) and Michael was a pretty strong reference so the fact that Jenson has won these races with Rubens in the team sets the standard," Brawn told Autosport.

"I think he is doing exceptionally well. It's early days but I'm obviously delighted with both drivers' performance. But Jenson is doing exceptionally well."

Jense already setting his sights on Silverstone win


Jenson Button has vowed to put on a show for his fans next month as he is now guaranteed to be World Championship leader going into the British Grand Prix.

No matter what unfolds at the next race in Turkey in a fortnight, Button's blistering start to the season, with five wins from six grands prix, ensures he cannot be caught before Silverstone on June 21.

That is a source of great pride for Button, who produced a perfect drive around Monaco to open up a 16-point lead at the top of the standings over Brawn GP team-mate Rubens Barrichello.

"That's a great feeling," said Button.

"I always love the British Grand Prix, which is obviously my proper home grand prix.

"Even when you're not competitive and things are going tough, you still get a lot of support there, being British, which is great.

"But going there having won five races (potentially six if he also wins in Turkey) will be a nice feeling.

"Hopefully there will be lots of Brawn caps out there. I think they've only just gone on sale. It would be nice to see a couple.

"But it's a special race, whether you're in a good car or a not-so-good car.

"But turning up there leading the Championship, yeah, it's going to be nice, and hopefully I'll put on a good show in front of the home crowd.

"Rubens is going to be tough to beat there. He's beaten me every year he's been my team-mate (all three years), but I'll give it a good go."

In fact, it will be a British team, driver and owner heading into the British Grand Prix leading both Championships as Ross Brawn's marque have been inspirational since he took over following the demise of Honda.

That fact took Brawn by surprise when it was put to him as he said: "I hadn't thought of that.

"But we seem to have built up a tremendous group of fans, even in the short time we have been together.

"So we are really looking forward to seeing them all at Silverstone and hopefully having a special time.

"All races are very special, but of course your home grand prix has an extra element, so victory there would be pretty special.

"It would almost complete the set."

With his win in Monaco, Button joined an all-star cast of drivers to have won five of the first six races after Alberto Ascari, Juan Manuel Fangio, Jim Clark, Sir Jackie Stewart, Nigel Mansell and Michael Schumacher.

It was a feat Schumacher achieved three times, and on each occasion Brawn was the brains behind such an accomplishment.

Although reluctant to compare the two, Brawn's appreciation for Button's attributes behind the wheel is growing immeasurably.

"There was a point in the race where Jenson was coming up to a group that were racing each other," reflected Brawn.

"We were talking on the pit wall and saying maybe he should ease the pace back a bit, and not get mixed up in it.

"Almost simultaneously he came on the radio and said 'Look guys, I don't want to get involved in what's going on ahead. I'm going to ease back a bit'.

"So he's gaining in that mental capacity to do things, as well as drive the car.

"For Jenson, you have to remember Rubens is also a tremendous reference. Rubens had his occasions when he beat Michael, and Michael was a pretty strong reference.

"So the fact Jenson has won these races with Rubens in the team sets the standard.

"It's early days, but I'm obviously delighted with both drivers' performance. But Jenson is doing exceptionally well."

On the evidence of what we have seen so far, it should yield the world title, not that Button will be drawn into that.

"I'm taking it as it comes. Nothing's changed," insisted Button.

"I don't know what would change if I did think about the World Championship to be fair.

"But I'm enjoying myself, as you can imagine, and I'm just looking forward to the next weekend in Turkey."