From ITV.com/F1
Honda Racing has announced that it has signed former Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn as its team principal.
Brawn has been on sabbatical this year after a 10-year tenure at the Maranello squad, where he masterminded an unprecedented six consecutive constructors’ world championships and five drivers’ titles with Michael Schumacher.
He will join Honda as team principal, working alongside Nick Fry, who will stay on as chief executive.
Brawn will be given full responsibility for design, manufacture, engineering and race operations, allowing Fry to focus on the business and marketing side and managing the relationship with Honda’s board in Japan.
Throughout the summer Brawn was strongly linked with a return to Ferrari, but when negotiations broke down Honda quickly swooped for the Briton and the deal was reportedly signed off last week at a meeting with the company’s bosses in Japan.
The signing is a stunning coup for Honda, which has endured a disastrous 2007 season with the uncompetitive RA107 car.
It is also likely to boost the team’s chances of retaining Jenson Button’s services beyond 2008.
The Briton recently warned that he would seriously consider leaving Honda at the end of next year unless it gave him a “dramatically improved” car.
Fry said Brawn’s appointment was proof of Honda’s determination to reverse its slide down the grid and build a title-challenging outfit.
“One of my main tasks over the past six months has been to attract new talent to the Honda Racing F1 Team and we have made a number of key appointments in the areas of aerodynamics, design, engineering, marketing and on the racing team,” he said.
“Today’s announcement that Ross Brawn is to join our team is a very satisfying conclusion to the process of refreshing and revitalising a strong and determined team.
“Ross obviously needs no introduction.
“His experience of winning world championships in Formula 1 will be crucial as we seek to put Honda back into championship contention and I am delighted that we will be working together to achieve that.”
Honda Motor Company’s Hiroshi Oshima added: “I am pleased with the structure we have put in place for the future success of our Formula 1 team.
“A great deal of consideration has been given to the areas in which we need to develop and I am encouraged that we have a strong basis for the future.
“The appointment of Ross Brawn will bring world championship winning experience and technical vision to our team and I expect Ross and Nick Fry, who will now be able to concentrate fully on running the commercial and business aspects of our company, to work closely together to bring success to Honda in Formula 1.
“Shuhei Nakamoto will now take up the role of Deputy MD (Technical) in which he will work for Ross whilst ensuring that the F1 team gains maximum benefit from our Honda R&D operation in Tochigi.
“We look forward to a successful season ahead.”
Brawn will begin work with Honda on November 26.
Thought he might have gone back, or to Red Bull, who actually show signes of improvement.
Bring Back Pako
Oh dear
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