Is it Honda or Brawn GP?

The team Brawn GP has only debuted in the 2009 Formula 1 season. It is originally known as the Honda Team or Honda Racing F1 until it withdrew from the FIA in December 2008 and was bought and turned over to Ross Brawn to own and manage for beginning the 2009 season. Though most people still do associate the Brawn GP Team as a continuation or as an adaptation of Team Honda, the FIA has acknowledged the Brawn GP as a brand new team and not as a simple management turn-over. The team has retained both former Honda drivers Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello.

Behind Ross Brawn and Brawn Grand Prix

As these are production races, sponsors play a vital role in both the races and the individual teams. For the Brawn Grand Prix Formula One Team, they have been able to retain the same sponsors the original Team Honda had plus some new additions. The team was able to get a partnership with Henri Lloyd, the British clothing manufacturer who is responsible for supplying the team with footwear and official clothing. Their biggest sponsor is said to be Sir Richard Branson from the Virgin Group and has its logo appearing on the cars of the team. Later on in the season, Ray-Ban has also pledged its sponsorship throughout the season and has agreed for their logo to appear on the drivers’ helmets. Other sponsors include MIG Investments, Endless Advance, NCE and Williams. There are also some other sponsors who have appeared and offered their investment on specific races.

What is under the Brawn GP F1 Race Cars?

The Brawn GP Formula One Team cars use Mercedes Benz engines and the flag bearer Bridgestone tyres. And though the use of KERS or the Kinetic Energy Recovery System has become a fad among the top teams such as Ferrari and McLaren, the Honda Team were initially thought and predicted to be the first car to bear the system in the 2008 season. However, due to complications of circumstances and withdrawal which resulted in the ownership change, the team was not able to ever have a chance to develop and have it installed in their cars. Despite this so called handicap or disadvantage, the Brawn GP team has been able to grab the pole four times in the current 2009 season beating those with the KERS system by a long shot.

Despite the fact that some critics have given the Brawn GP team such a negative or pessimistic prediction for their debut season due to the track record of the Honda F1 Team, they were able to come in with a strong debut. Out of 9 races for the 2009 season, the team was able to pole 4 times and end with a 1-2 finish 3 times out of the 9 races; the great bonus for this team is the glory of having a 1-2 finish on its debut race which happened last in 1954 achieved by the Mercedes Team.