Formula One news

Virgin-Brawn announcement to come post-season

Virgin owner Richard Branson has said that a decision will be made regarding his company's sponsorship of the Brawn team once the season is over. The Englishman began his partnership with the championship-winning squad for the Australian Grand Prix although Brawn's success clearly means that any extension of the deal would now be significantly more expensive.

Virgin's association with Brawn was timed to perfection

With Virgin having stepped in to assist Brawn, which required extra funds immediately before the first race in Melbourne, the worldwide name has now been linked with the Manor team although Branson insists that any decision on Brawn will be placed on hold until the end of the season, with festivities still continuing.

"We will make a decision after Abu Dhabi, which is the final race of the season," Branson told BBC Radio 5 Live. "It was the perfect relationship. Virgin loves to support an underdog but they are now one of the most expensive teams out there…certainly not underdogs anymore!

"We will make an announcement in the next month but at the moment we just want to celebrate a magnificent season with the Brawn team, Jenson (Button) and Rubens (Barrichello), who also did magnificently."

Branson celebrates a stunning 1-2 result in the opening race

Before going on to add that Japanese manufacturer Honda, former owner of the team, should be credited for the money it invested in Brawn before pulling out of the sport last December, Richard added that such an outcome in 2009 could never have been predicted before the start of the campaign seven months ago.

"I don't think, in our wildest dreams, we thought this would happen!" he laughed. "I knew they had a good car, as I happened to know one of the test drivers, but when I got on a plane to Melbourne with some Virgin stickers in my bag, having just shaken hands and given them some money, the last thing I expected was a first and second in the championship race!"

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