Formula One news

Brawn GP and Honda confirm agreement

Honda and Ross Brawn confirmed on Friday morning that they have reached an agreement to secure the future of the former Honda Racing F1 Team. The Japanese manufacturer will pass ownership to Ross Brawn, Team Principal of the newly labelled outfit, with immediate effect.

The team has agreed a partnership with Mercedes-Benz to supply the team with its 2.4 litre FO108W engines, and can confirm that they are retaining drivers Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello. The race-winning drivers continue their partnership for a fourth consecutive year, forming the most experienced line-up on the grid with 423 Grand Prix starts between them.

Team Principal, Ross Brawn, commented on the news: "The past few months have been extremely challenging for the team but today's announcement is the very pleasing conclusion to the strenuous efforts that have been made to secure its future.

"Firstly, it is a great shame that, having worked with Honda Motor Company for so long, we can no longer continue together. I would like to thank them for the fantastic co-operation and support we have received throughout this process - particularly those members of the senior management who were closely involved with concluding our agreement - and for the faith they have demonstrated in myself and our team.

"I would also like to take this opportunity to pay due credit to our staff at Brackley. The levels of motivation and commitment that I have witnessed at the factory deserve the highest praise.

"I am delighted that Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello will form our line-up for the 2009 season. The vast experience and knowledge that both drivers bring to our team will prove invaluable as we aim to get up to speed in the shortest possible time to be ready for the first race of the season in Melbourne on 29 March. In what will be their fourth season together, their experience with our team in Brackley, our systems and our engineers, will prove a real asset."

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