posted Nov 13, 2007

After a year out of the sport, Brawn will have no trouble proving that anything he brings to Honda is his own (and by extionsion Honda's) IP. The ferocious pace of development in F1 should ensure that any technical aspects of the 2006 Ferrari are irrelevant to a 2008 car.

I'm not expecting too dramatic an improvement this season, as production of the 2008 car is already well underway. This whole move has got me really excited at the prospect of F1 being a four or even five (depending where Alonso eventually hangs his hat) horse race within a year or two.

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posted Nov 13, 2007

"After a year out of the sport, Brawn will have no trouble proving that anything he brings to Honda is his own (and by extionsion Honda's) IP."

Don't be so sure. There are clearly ideas embedded in those cars that have not yet been understood (note that McLaren were sensitive about stuff at the hearing and also that had gone to Renault). Also, when at Ferrari, no doubt contractually everything that Ross did was Ferrari property. In the current atmosphere, where the hint of an idea could become a reason for deducting points from McLaren, Ferrari might be very tempted to go after the betrayer Brawn - especially when Honda start challenging them.

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posted Nov 13, 2007

He will relish the challenge of beating his old team - eventually. Honda engineering wise are a match for anyone when focused. It may take 3 years but it could be sooner.

Also Ross (engineer from the Harwell Atomic Research Establishment - wow) brings tactical knowledge which helped Schumacher to every one of his WDCs.

I'm sure wuth RB (Ross not Rueben) behind Button that alone will generate a confidence he may have lacked with the pit wall...

If Honda, Button and Brawn gel the team could really see an upturn and it may be sooner than anyone thinks!

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posted Nov 13, 2007

"I'm sure wuth RB (Ross not Rueben) behind Button that alone will generate a confidence he may have lacked with the pit wall..."

You might be right, but it won't be much good if strategy wise they are spot on but are 3s per lap slower than the others as they were this year. Hopefully Brawn will be able to find the banana in the exhaust quickly and get Honda back up where they were in 2004! Oh and I hope he gives Nick Fry a nudge to give the terrible livery the heave ho, it may be a good cause but it looks rubbish.

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posted Nov 16, 2007

Good for Honda ... but only if the Japanese top management let the guys do their own thing.

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posted Nov 16, 2007

I think Ross Brawn is on to a good thing in the short term. By the law of averages the 2008 car should be better than this years and Ross will undoubtedly get the plaudits for any immediate improvement (deserved or not) and if it not any better than this years then it's not his fault. The crunch time will be after the honeymoon period is over when tangible results will be expected. I imagine that will be expected sooner rather than later. If there is not a marked upturn in the teams fortunes by the second part of next season I’ll be very surprised. Also don’t underestimate Ruebens. I remember him qualifying on pole at Silverstone in 2002 I think only for the mechanics to leave him up on his jacks (for some reason?) when the others set off on the formation lap and he had to start from the back of the grid. He eventually finished second behind MS and it was incredible to watch him going through the field. I was at the bottom of the hanger straight and I forget how many cars he overtook going into Stowe during the race. He was incredible and I’m not a Ferrari fan.

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posted Nov 16, 2007

its a nice coup for honda. shows their intent to succeed af f1.

now dont forget you applaud brawn and mock ferrari and schumaher for the race which barichello surrendered the lead to schumacher but it was ross brawns decision to do that.
sometimes we overlook what our countrymen does and point a finger at a foreigner.
some people suggest stepney and brawn was close that was never the case. bryne and brawn and schumacher came from benetton to ferrari they were the architect for ferrari resurgence and they all left together.stepney stayed but didnt get a promotion he was looking for and took his own actions which we know what it resulted.
now do not ever defend stepney on these forums. he is spent he is marked he sold out on a team where he earned his bread money from.there is no excuse for what he had done and there will be no teams who will want him.

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posted Nov 16, 2007

Ah but that's the point giganticBanjo, the team's attitude, obviously, has already been changed just by his arrival.
One thing, i would love to know your secret contact at Honda that tells you exactly what Jensen does or does not say to his mechanics, Must be marvelous to have such a supply of everything that goes on in the Honda team. Wonder why he didn't let you know Brawn was coming.

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posted Nov 16, 2007

Brawn alone will add little impact to Honda. To draw a parallel which is the premise behind Brawn’s appointment, the key to Ferrari’s success was a combined talent & ability of an exceptional driver at the core, supported by outstanding design, team manager & technical lead.

Brawn alone is just one component in this mix. Looking at the other components within Honda, clearly, their poor design has been a major factor as Button himself called last year’s car a “dog”. At the core there is a driver who at best is just above average (speed & skill-wise) & I doubt very much that Button is the kind of driver who brings “Schumacher-type” engineering input and management to the table to allow Brawn to drive Honda forward.

At the end of the day, if Brawn is really up to the challenge at Honda and can convince the Japanese management to do it his way, he will end up bringing a whole lot of people with him to establish a similar team at Honda as he had in Ferrari and that includes a whole new driver line up, technical lead & design team.

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posted Nov 18, 2007

Think back to the podiums Button achieved with a car short on pace.No problems with skill there just the car short on speed.Think if Brawn gets Button to shave his beard off he might stand a chance.Still not seen a F1 champion with a beard.

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