Tag: Brawn
Australian GP- A Fairy Tale In The Making?
by Chris on Mar.28, 2009, under F1
2009 AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIXSATURDAY POST-QUALIFYING PRESS CONFERENCE
Jenson BUTTON: I wish. The last five or six months for both of us have been so tough because of going from not having a drive or any future in racing to putting it on pole here is just amazing, it really is and I have got to give all credit to the team and Ross (Brawn) and Nick (Fry) for making this happen. This is where we deserve to be after the tough times we have had.
After the qualifying round for the Australian GP I can not say I am surprised at the results. I will say that I agree with Eddie Irvine in that this is a fairy story. With Richard Brandson showing interest in the Brawn GP Team for what could possibly be a long run and although I appreciate that Ross Brawn needs the money, it would be a shame if Virgin is to replace the Brawn GP brand name. History has been made for a brand new team and it should last for a longer period.
Kimi and Filepe went farming after what Martin Brundle described as “Giving it big bannana’s”. The new cars (all of them) has to be driven with care it seems and Massa had several big moments during qualifying. The big “Hoo Ha” about KERS could be a factor but as Eddie Irvine said, it is something the Americans played around with in the past and it should not be in F1. I think I agree
The Heat is on – F1 in Aus
by Chris on Mar.27, 2009, under F1
Ferrari, McLaren and BMW drivers have resorted to wearing “cloaking devices” at the race track looking at Massa’s “beardy” it would seem. Could this be due to the the first practice rounds that we have had? What a surprise to see dark horses Williams, Brawn, Toyota and Red Bull “hogging” the front row and making life difficult for the high budget front runners of the past.
The cars look cleaner and I am glad to see the return of slick tyres to the formula. The “hype” about KERS and the concerns about the “reg” changes will be exposed this weekend and it is time fans agree we need a change to the sport that suit us and the spectators.
There are questions asked about the continuity of the Brawn car and I think we should accept the fact that Ross is not an idiot and has the knowledge and experience on how to run a team. To question his business acumen at this stage will be the same as to doubt his racing abilities, which, Mercedes Benz have already shown is in no doubt with their agreement to supply engines to the team. I think Mercedes after the practise rounds must be in no doubt that they have made the right decision.
The only aspect of the sponsorship to Ross Brawn’s team which I believe might come from Virgin and Richard Branson I do not like, is that he, Richard, sat on the fence waiting to see if Brawn GP were going to be succesful with the car specs, and if the appeals against the diffusers will be acceptable. I appreciate that this would have been a business decision but it is not a sport in which a sponsor can sit on the fence and wait to see which way a decision will go.
Once again Ross, well done and I believe you will be there for years to come. If I did not know better I would say get Rory and Michael together and go out there, chew bubblegum and kick some ass.
At this stage I have to say that most of the focus has been on the Brawn car but the threat is not just from that quarter and we have to keep eyes on Williams and Toyota who have something to prove. I really wish the FIA and the proposed or anticipated appeal against these guys are not successful and we can get racing.
LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!!!!
F1 Australian Madness & Speculation
by Chris on Mar.26, 2009, under F1
Some of the questions asked by press really make you laugh. I think the best I have seen recently is when Jon McEvoy from the Daily Mail asked Felipe Massa for a response about reports on Lewis Hamilton’s comment on driving for other teams and how he would feel about driving alongside him.Massa had the ideal response when he said “Well, I drove alongside Michael. I drive alongside Kimi, so… I heard for many years already that Fernando will come. He’s just another one, so I don’t care. Valentino Rossi as well. Maybe my father will drive for Ferrari next year. We don’t know”
I must say that the Brawn GP car has the other teams very worried and I can not wait for the practice to start. Having spent all that time preparing for this year has certainly given some teams a wake up call. I am glad the stewards threw the protests out regarding diffusers and I think the race will tell what the real impact will be.
Quite amazing how the teams interpreted the rules in different ways. Was this a lack of lateral thinking? Oh that Brawn Magic.
Brawn GP 2009
by Chris on Mar.17, 2009, under F1
So the real good news is that Ross Brawn GP is progressing well at Jerez and times are favourable with that of Renault and Fernando Alonso. For the first “Official Test” in 2009 this is not bad going. I believe Honda made the right decision in selling out to Ross Brawn because he has the experience to run a F1 team at the highest level. Michael Schumacher stated that Ross Brawn at Ferrari were “very logical and well organised and have a flair to keep the structure and correct people in place”.
His drivers have all the experience to develop and ensure progression and development and his senior management team is still in place. Work never stopped even in the face of impending closure by Honda but I believe it was Ross Brawn that managed to keep a potentially great team intact. I believe Brawn GP have the right to be on the grid at Melbourne and it would be good to see them do well in the first race. Even though Ross thanked Honda for closing a deal with him I believe most F1 enthusiasts felt a sense of relief that Honda did not sell out to USF1 or even Virgin. Had this happened we would not have seen the team at the Melbourne starting grid.
The fact that Mercedes Benz have closed a deal in supplying engines to the Brawn GP Team would be another feather in the cap of Ross and a indication of how others value his contribution to this sport. I look forward to the first race at Melbourne and how this team will perform.
