Formula One news

Virgin and Brawn likely to split

Richard Branson has admitted that chances of his worldwide Virgin brand name continuing its sponsorship of the Brawn GP team remain unlikely for next year. The partnership, which began shortly before the start of the 2009 season, assisted the survival of the team although Branson explained that, with the Brawn name now more valuable, chances of the two parties splitting are high.

The seemingly magical partnership between Virgin and the ex-Honda team has seen six victories being clinched from the seven races so far this year, as Branson talked of the attraction to F1's newest name on the grid. "We got in when it was very cheap and it's been great for us with global coverage, but I suspect next year the price will be astronomical and we may have to look somewhere else, with a smaller team," he told BBC Radio 5 Live. "We at Virgin have most likely got the mileage we needed from it; their value has gone from next to nothing to 50 million pounds a year - we're delighted for them and we'll have had a fantastic year with them."

Brawn's partnership with Virgin was a highlight of the Australian Grand Prix weekend

South London-born Branson also shared his opinion on the current spat between F1 governing body the FIA and FOTA (Formula One Teams Association): "I think it would be a great pity (for a split to take place). Both sides need to sit down and sense needs to prevail; there are good arguments on both sides - certainly the cost base of Formula One needs to be reduced and most of the teams seem to agree to that. The difference between the two sides needs to be sorted out."

"There's a lot of strong personalities in motorsport and I think that certain personalities on both sides need to know the art of compromise and sense needs to prevail. If I can do anything to help I'd certainly be interested in doing so."

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