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Posts Tagged Brawn GP

Schumacher’s Contract For Free?

Jan 12

Posted by Insider in F1, Mercedes-Benz, News

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Mercedes motorsport director Norbert Haug hit back at criticism coming from within the Stuttgart based company in recent weeks, insisting that the German manufacturer has taken the best path to the future in terms of Formula One commitments.

Soon after Daimler AG pulled their support from Team McLaren, some of the voices within the company’s board of directors argued that this would have been a great opportunity for Mercedes to quit the sport completely. Instead, Mercedes bought more than 75 percent of Brawn GP and began its own new team in the series. Needless to say, the move was intensively criticized internally.

In addition to that “costly move”, as argued by a member of Daimler’s supervisory board and Corporate Works Council Erich Klemm, the team then employed Michael Schumacher for an alleged 7 million euro retainer per season. Again, a supervisory board member Uwe Werner argued that the move was “hard to justify” in times of economic regression such as these.

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3-Year Deal with Manor

Dec 30

Posted by Insider in F1, News

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Sir Richard Branson revealed that he is enthusiastic about creating his own team in Formula One, despite the fact that his outfit will most certainly not enjoy the same success as Brawn GP, his former partner in the series.

“We’re not expecting the same sort of good fortune that we had last year. We fully accept that we’re going to have to build the team over the coming years. But it’s going to be exciting to try and do that,” Branson was quoted as saying by planetf1.com.

Nevertheless, Branson made it very clear that his investment in the series will not last for too long, as the Manor chiefs will have to bring in some sponsors of their own after the first few years in F1. The current budget of the British outfit is approximately £40 million, all of if being secured by Virgin Group.

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Button Negative On Schumacher’s Return

Dec 14

Posted by Insider in F1, News, Rumors

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With the reports about Michael Schumacher’s return to Formula One getting more and more serious, several driver in the F1 paddock started to share their own view on the matter. While countryman Adrian Sutil said that Schu’s return might not be such a good idea for the 40-year old ace, reigning F1 champion Jenson Button also argued that it might be risky business for the former Ferrari-an.

Although admitting that the sport would benefit a great deal from Schumacher’s presence on the F1 grid, Button stressed the fact that the German driver will put his reputation on the line for no good reason.

“Schumacher coming back to F1 is great news for the sport. But I don’t know if it will be great news for Michael Schumacher. He will be putting his reputation on the line coming back into the sport,” said Button in an interview with British tabloid News of the World.

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Hamilton: I’ll take back the Title

Dec 8

Posted by Insider in F1, Mclaren, Mercedes-Benz

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Everything may seem fine and dandy back at Woking, now that a British team backed by a British sponsor benefits from the services of two British drivers, both Formula One champions, but Lewis Hamilton made one thing clear prior to his preparations for the 2010 Formula One Championship.

The driver who brought McLaren their first drivers title after Mika Hakkinen told the media that, while working as a team, he and Jenson Button have only one goal in 2010: getting back the F1 title and retaining the crown respectively. Ron Dennis’ protege warned Button that he will not have a happy stay at McLaren, as he plans to take back the title next year.

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Barrichello Took “Golden Helmet” Award

Dec 4

Posted by Insider in Awards, F1

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The good news keep on pouring for Ferrari-an Felipe Massa lately, as the Brazilian driver has this week received a special award from the Brazilian F1 Motor Racing Federation, alongside fellow countryman Rubens Barrichello.

The latter, former Brawn GP driver and current Williams F1 racer, received the “Golden Helmet” award for his great contribution for Brazil in the world of motor racing, despite finishing the 2009 campaign in 3rd place. However, while doing so, he also secured Brazil’s 100th win in the Formula One Championship, during the European Grand Prix in Valencia. Barrichello dedicated his award to his uncle Dárcio Campos.

The “Golden Helmet” is the highest award a racer could be honored with in Brazil, as it is backed by the Motorpress Company and the Brazilian auto racing federation.

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Schumacher talks with Mercedes GP

Nov 20

Posted by Insider in F1, News

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Michael Schumacher has reportedly held ‘preliminary talks’ with Mercedes GP that could see him make a comeback next season. The seven-time World Champion was set for a brief return with Ferrari during this year’s Championship before a neck injury put paid to his plans. But that doesn’t mean he’s out for good.

According to a report in the Daily Telegraph, ‘Schumacher has been sounded out about a sensational return to Formula One next season’ with Mercedes Grand Prix. The newspaper claims that given ‘Mercedes takeover of Brawn GP and World Champion Jenson Button’s shock switch to McLaren, the possibility of a German dream team with Nico Rosberg is emerging.

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Button: I Tell You Why

Nov 20

Posted by Insider in F1, News

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Following immense criticism from most of the F1 pundits and former employers back at Brawn for his sudden switch to McLaren Mercedes, Jenson Button finally broke the silence and told the world why he chose to pack his bags and head to Woking.

The reigning world champion actually confirmed the latest reports that he would have earned more money back at Brackley than what he has signed for with McLaren, but decided to leave Ross Brawn & Co anyway because he was looking for new challenges in the sport. So it was the toughness of the challenge that drove him to seal a deal with McLaren, rather than continue with his comforting life at Brawn.

“I am actually earning less than I would have been at Brawn so it’s not about the money. It’s because it’s something new,” said Brawn in a short interview with BBC Radio Five Live.

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Stewart prefer Button stays with Brawn

Nov 20

Posted by Insider in F1

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First he warned Jenson Button not to leave his position within the Brawn GP organization - soon to become Silver Arrows F1 - for a place at Woking, now he sticks by his argument and publicly tells the reigning F1 champion that he did a mistake when going for the McLaren Mercedes money.Yes, we are talking about triple-crowned F1 champion Sir Jackie Stewart.

Even if they do prepare him a title-winning car next year, McLaren will most certainly make it more difficult for Button to outscore fellow countryman Lewis Hamilton. Two British champions driving for a British team is surely a dream come true for most of the UK racing fans, but it won’t keep sparks from igniting during Button’s stay at McLaren - as we believe Hamilton will be there for life. Read the rest of this entry »

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Button UP !!

Nov 19

Posted by Insider in F1

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Ross Brawn could hardly believe the news that his protege and favorite driver of the 2009 season Jenson Button left the team and joined rivals McLaren Mercedes for the 2010 Formula One Championship. The 29-year old Brit committed to a multi-year deal with the Woking based team, leaving his former outfit looking for a new driver to take them on top of the standings.

“I was very disappointed at the way things finished up with Jenson,” was the simple and short statement of Brawn when talking to the reporters from UK newspaper Daily Express.

While that statement alone shows how much Brawn wanted to continue his collaboration with Button, the team’s Chief Executive Officer Nick Fry was far more critic of his former employee. Fry insisted once again that he made Button a better offer than what McLaren had promised the Brit and hinted that this may just be the most stupid decision Button ever made in F1.

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Button Deal with McLaren for 3 years

Nov 17

Posted by Insider in F1, Mclaren, Mercedes-Benz

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Of course this is not official, but it seems that Jenson Button has already agreed to a 18 million pounds sterling deal with McLaren Mercedes, for the upcoming 3 seasons of Formula One. According to the British newspaper The Guardian, the defending Formula One champion will sign the papers in the upcoming few days, as he has already said “yes” to McLaren’s offer.

The 29-year old driver was seen joining his manager Richard Goodard in a tour of the Woking factory over the last weekend, and the aforementioned publication cites sources close to Button who confirm the Brit was quite impressed with what he saw.

In addition, the fact that Ross Brawn is unlikely to update his offer for a contract extension even after his team was purchased by Daimler AG seems to have made all the difference in the world for Jenson. According to Nick Fry, Mercedes’ buyout will not lead to a better offer to Button, which drove the British driver away to Woking.

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