Virgin poised for Brawn link-up
Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group is close to splashing some cash on the Brawn Grand Prix team.
Formula 1 fans may remember that Branson was linked to the former Honda team last month as a potential buyer before team principal Ross Brawn secured his own buy-out.
Now Branson's Virgin Group is understood to be on the verge of some form of investment.
The Mole has learned from the company that Branson has boarded a Virgin flight to Australia and will be landing on Saturday. Virgin also added that Branson was "very keen" on F1.
Brawn GP chief Ross Brawn offered a firm "no comment" to questions about the proposed deal but it looks like it will all be rubber-stamped in Melbourne.
The exact nature of the arrangement is not yet clear but a team sponsorship package seems the most likely.
F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone was quoted in the Times on Friday saying: "Virgin and Brawn have come to commercial terms which he (Branson) thinks are viable. Both he and the team are happy."
Brawn GP chief executive Nick Fry confirmed the team, who do not have any key commercial partners, are on the verge of announcing a major new sponsor in Australia.
One thing the Mole does know is that even if Brawn do seal a last-minute deal with Virgin they will continue to run in their distinctive white and lime green colours for now.
Apparently, there is no time for a quick paint job to update the livery even if Sir Richard has packed his own paintbrush.
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~33~RS~)
Comments
Good news for Brawn, and I can only hope they do give the cars a new lick of paint for Malaysia. The flourescent wheel fairings are hideous!
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I agree about the paint job, might make the car look like a ferrari! What I want to know is what the team will be called? 'Brawn Virgin GP' perhaps?
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Jenson's last hope to fulfill his early career promise I think
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This will be a good thing for Brawn GP. Even though they had the advantage of having their car started by Honda (see article 'Brawn rises from Honda ashes'), they needed someone with experience to carry on the good work. Now they have that in Ross Brawn, they need the funding to help continue the development of their car, as sooner or later the other teams - especially the ones that have more money to spend - will catch up. Hopefully this is true that Virgin will get involved, as this will help to continue their good work. This means that they will help to make a very competitive season, where it is not just dominated by Ferrari and McLaren (see this mornings practice!).
By the way, I quite like the look of the car.
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I actually like the lime green, white is a bit dull.
There is enough red on the grid as it is.
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fantastic news, Brawn's genius with a touch of cash added is surely a recipe for success. That should keep them on the grid. Branson is astute thought and will no doubt not sign until he's watched the race
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I think this would be brilliant, although it would be interesting to have four red cars on track! I do seem to remember Mr Brawn doing particularly well with red cars last time...
If this does all come to fruition, I just hope they include the Virgin Altantic 'Cosmic Girl' design. How cool would that be on the nose-cone?
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We think there are more important issues than the livery of the car this season. After all they are a team that were very close to not racing. Good luck Brawn GP, Were certainly behind you
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Five Live+internet coverage is excellent.
(The preview podcast is very good too)
Good small tight team who work well together.
ANT is a natural... really impressive debut.
All BBC F1 platforms blasting off the start in fine style
GREAT JOB!
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Love the idea about putting the 'Cosmic Girl' on the car... I hate the current livery they're using!
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I hope this comes to fruition, although I hope Jenson and Rubens go back to their usual helmet colours soon!!
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If this partnership really does happen it'll be great for F1, Brawn GP, Virgin Group and the fans. We need more people like Richard Branson and Ross Brawn in F1, each brings great ambition, experience and a sense of fun back to the sport. Can't wait to see those stewardesses on the grid in Malaysia.....
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So it's not going to be sponsorship by "Virgin Galactic," then?
I'm disappointed.
I do wonder as to the livery, however: just as with football sponsorship, where scoring [be it points or goals] is all-important, having the name "Virgin" prominently displayed is a questionable message.
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@Dave-Danger, I reckon based on the nearest precedent "Vodafone Mclaren Mercedes" that the team would have the official name "Virgin Brawn Mercedes" but with everyone referring to it colloquially as "Brawn". But Virgin might look at the Mclaren scenario, notice that no one actually refers to the team name with Vodafone in it and conclude it's not worth the money and just be lead "visual" sponsor on the car and merchandise...
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A real opportunity to see some beautifully decorated Formula One cars, with an iconic design for a possible Virgin Brawn Team, perhaps?
Martini Brabham (70s), Warsteiner Arrows (70s), Gitanes Ligier (70s-80s), Marlboro McLaren (70s-80s-90s), Parmalat Brabham (70s-80s), Benetton Alfa Romeo (84-85), 7up Jordan (1991)
Some were not always the fastest cars, but they looked great!
Come on Brawn, you can do better than fluorescent yellow!!!
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good news, with branson cash brawn should create another team to compete at the top,
get rid of the green reminds me of the honda earth green
need to see virgin logo and lots of girls on the grid just like it should be
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Yikes.... The other teams must be shaking in their booties at the prospect of Brawn's already zippy beasts getting a coat of the bright Virgin livery - we all know that red makes cars go faster!
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“Brawn GP chief Ross Brawn offered a firm "no comment" to questions about the proposed deal but it looks like it will all be rubber-stamped in Melbourne.
The exact nature of the arrangement is not yet clear but a team sponsorship package seems the most likely.”
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I like Ross Brawn’s “NO COMMENT” comment!! : ). When he doesn’t speak in advance usually we know and as we have seen over the years something very GOOD and ENCOURAGING happens. Plus any comments now are unnecessary just before the start of the season and the Race on Sunday in Melbourne. These are just DISTRACTIONS, while they want and have to remain FULLY FOCUSED.
That’s why they do always a very good job.
WELL DONE, AGAIN, ROSS!! Good example for some other teams…
As for the second comment and statement: “The exact nature, etc…” typical as we know already. Just bit of rumours and uncertainty for now. “Not yet clear”, “Seems”, etc. we heard this before. Many times…(Tell something else).
Richard Branson and his multi group do they want to be involved seriously in F1 or not?! We saw it last month – when it comes to this name and F1 and (eventually) Brawn GP – only the time will tell. They won’t…
And I still don’t know and cant comment on the colours of the car : ). Colours like colours : ). As long as it is fast and do the job, who cares that much…Plus they say Jenson Button is some kind of handsome. One is enough for pretty : )
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I hope Jenson does well coz he deserves it.
u guys reckon they'll replace the white with the red of virgin and keep the lime green that would look kinda cool like the spartak moscow footie kit.
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Ross+Branson=success. The kind of news Formula 1 needs now when funding is drying up rapidly.The truth is that nobody wants to see a formula 1 race without the teams and their exotic colours
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Brawn being sponsored by Virgin? Perhaps together they'll go all the way...!?!
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Virgin Brawn Mercedes does have a certain ring to it.
I too would love to see them running with the "Cosmic Girl" art, either on the nose, or plastered along the side of the car.
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Virgin as title sponsor - great. Could they also get Cadburys, to tie in with the Double Decker diffuser? If they had KERS, they could then also have Cadbury's Boost. Maybe I'll drop a note to the BGP marketing department and ask for a 1% commission!
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Great news if it is true, can't wait to see the pit girl's all in red with their blond hair, PHEW!
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i think looking at it all it is likely to be Virgin Brawn Mercedes GP
'Brawn gp' for short as for the car livery i would'nt be so sure on red!
Virgin also use white backgrounds with the virgin in red so would fit in with the current colour,
And like already mentioned why oh why would we want it to look like a Ferrari??? good luck ross, good luck Brawn GP and especially good luck Jensen we've been waiting for this for a long time -
good car + fantastic driver = World Champion????
WE CAN BUT HOPE!!!!!
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nic to see all the cash from my pay cuts (I work for VM) will be put to good use.
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i have been a n f1 fan since the days of prost,senna,etc,and have had the privalige of going to spa in 05,if sir richard branson and brawn hook up,the car should look amazing,and with the times button,barricello are putting in in free practace,the season should be outstanding,how good it is to see williams,toyota,up at the top of the times,so far,qualifying will be very interesting tomorrow,
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great start to the new season.jenson hardly got a mention last year,how things have changed for the better.real excitment all mixed up. good luck to all the brawn team.thank god no ads anymore.
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I was so pleased when Ross Brawn took the Honda team. I don't think there is anybody who doesn't respect him and I'm sure everyone in the team will give 100%. Today's result is good for F1 and if they translate it into a win tomorrow -or even 1st and 2nd?? - what a shot in the arm that would be for our sport! One question.....how come Honda, with all their resources and motoring know how, couldn't do it in all their years of trying? Best wishes and good luck to all concerned and, by the way, I quite the colour scheme.
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honda must be gutted,team brawn did brilliant,what a great race and result. well done jenson, reubens and the rest.f1 back with a bang.colour scheme fine easy to pick out the cars.
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greetings fellow F1 fans,i was up early to watch qualifying,so glad i did,and then up early sunday to watch a piece of F1 history unfold before my astonished eyes,what a pleasure it was to watch a grand prix,without the usual top three teams at the top,dont get me wrong,it to was a great drive from lewis,but what a faultless drive from the smoothest,most under-rated driver on the grid,who for the last few years has not had the best car on the grid,but this weekend he and rubens both proved with a desent car,designed by ross brawn[a god amonst car designers,just ask mr shumacher],just how good he is.i do not think it will be very long before the rest of the pit will copy the brawn difuser,but may brawn f1 make as meny points as they possibly can in the time they have remaining,i do hope the rest of the season is as thrilling as the start,i may even get up early for all the early starts.
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I have to say that I am not impressed with evening racing! Even if it's good for European timings, I'd rather get up -or set the vid - than watch inferior pictures. The sun causes shadows on the track, lines on the onboard cameras and reflections on the cameras. The drivers must hate it too! We all know what it's like driving in early Spring or late Autumn on a bright sunny day and the sun is right in your eyes.......dangerous!! Bernie, think of us everyday fans please. Apart from that.........what a race. My semi-serious comment about a Brawn 1-2 came wonderfully true. (Wish I'd put £100.00 on it). More please Ross, Jens and Ruby.
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