Ross Brawn finally confirmed at Honda?

By Phil Huff
November 12 2007

Ross Brawn will today be unveiled as team principal the Honda Racing F1 Team. Current team chief Nick Fry will continue as the Japanese outfit's Chief Executive, according to reports in The Telegraph. Honda have been in discussion with Brawn for well over a year, trying to lure Ferrari's Technical Director to Brackley, but both sides scotched rumours that a move was imminent back in April.

Honda Racing F1 have been in discussion with Ross Brawn for well over a year, trying to lure Ferrari's Technical Director to Honda's Brackley base, but both sides scotched rumours that a move was imminent back in April of this year.

However, here at RealHondaF1.com we've been conscious of Honda's Japanese hierarchy running out of patience, as well as Brawn's desire to return to working in England. We have understood since September 2006 that Brawn would consider a move to Honda, but only in the role of Team Principal, choosing our words in previous reports very carefully. Finally, with intervention from Japan, the shuffle looks likely to happen.

Brawn brings with him 10 years of experience at Ferrari, during which the Italian team won an unprecedented six consecutive constructors' championships and five drivers' titles, all with Michael Schumacher at the wheel. Brawn was also largely responsible for Schumacher's two other previous titles at Benetton.

The news will be music to the ears of Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello, who have described the RA108 in various ways, notably as 'a dog' and 'a pile of shit'. When under threat of a penalty in , Rubens admitted a season long ban would be fine as it would mean he wouldn't have to drive the car again...

Honda source, some of whom post on the RealHondaF1.com message board, suggest that morale at the team HQ in Brackley is at an all time low, with general apathy allied to a culture of fear due to certain management styles. Signing Brawn is likely to at least start a revival in morale, and could be the teams salvation.

It is claimed that in competition with Red Bull and Toyota, Honda finally agreed a deal with Brawn, who travelled to Tokyo with Fry earlier this month, the deal being signed off last week.

It is notable that Honda's media website is now offline.