Honda and Ross Brawn have confirmed that they have reached agreement to secure the future of the former Honda Racing F1 Team, with ownership passing to team principal Brawn with immediate effect. Subject to FIA approval, the team will become known as the Brawn GP Formula One Team.

Brawn has agreed a partnership with Mercedes-Benz High Performance Engines, Brixworth, UK to supply the team with its 2.4 litre Mercedes-Benz FO108W Formula One engines. This too remains subject to FIA approval.

The team have also confirmed that their race driver line-up for the 2009 season will combine the talents of two of Formula One’s most experienced drivers in Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello. The race-winning drivers continue their partnership at the team for a fourth consecutive year, forming the most experienced driver partnership on the grid with 423 Grand Prix starts between them.

Button shakes down new Brawn car at Silverstone

Just hours after it was announced that the former Honda team will compete this season, Ross Brawn’s men were already hard at work shaking down their new car ahead of the season opener later this month. Friday’s private test took place at Silverstone, close to the British team’s Brackley headquarters.

Jenson Button, who has been retained to race for the new team, took charge of the Mercedes-engined BGP 001. Team principal Brawn and Button’s team mate for the 2009 season, Rubens Barrichello, were also in attendance as the team’s on-track preparations for the Australian Grand Prix finally got underway.

Following Friday’s outing the team will journey to Spain, where they will join their rivals and test at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya for four days from Monday.

Source: Formula1.com

I can’t wait any longer…

j.martinez