Brawn - More of the same

Brawn: Anticipates transitional year

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Ross Brawn has conceded that even if a buyer is found for the Honda F1 team they will not be able to make the sort of progress they had hoped for next season.

After two desultory years as also-rans, the Brackley-based team had hoped to move back towards the front of the grid in 2009 on the back of major rule changes.

However, the team's very survival became the chief concern last month when, following a slump in car sales, the Japanese manufacturer said it was withdrawing from the sport.

With Honda no longer supplying engines to the team, Brawn's previous tenure as Ferrari technical director saw him approach the latter about a possible deal.

And, while Brawn admitted that nothing has been finalised, the team's current predicament means that the advances they had hoped to make will, at best, have to wait another season.

"Honda has already said it will not supply us with engines, so that's why I contacted Ferrari," the team principal told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"We haven't signed anything yet but I really appreciated the support from president Luca di Montezemolo and (team principal) Stefano Domenicali. It's like being among former schoolmates: they still see me as one of their own."

Behind schedule

Explaining how he expected the team to fall behind schedule during the winter, Brawn explained: "Modifying the car to install a different engine requires at least six weeks of work anyway.

"It's unlikely we'll manage to be on track during the winter. That's why we are studying a package of evolutions for 2010, when we aim to step up the ladder. Next year will remain for us a transitional one."

Of course, their chances of making progress depend on a buyer being found, with Brawn again confirming that rumours of a possible takeover by Mexican businessmen Carlos Slim were a red herring.

"This gentleman never visited us and didn't show any intention of buying the team either," he said.

He is, however, confident that the team will be rescued in time. "Very good chances, I'm really optimistic," he added.