Brawn GP financial problem

Despite the recent management buyout-out and the 2009 car's sterling test pace, the future of Brawn GP reportedly remains under a very dark cloud.

In the decisions of the World Council meeting earlier this month, it was noted that despite the Brackley-based team simply requesting a name-change, Brawn would in fact be considered a 'new entry' for this season.

"The contract the team had with the FIA was to run as 'Honda', which they are no longer in a position to do," the FIA said.

Outwardly, the technicality has resulted in Brawn shifting to the very bottom of the pitlane, and being assigned the lowest race numbers for 2009.

But we noted last week that new teams usually must wait to receive full revenue entitlements according to F1's commercial agreements.

It is on this point that the Swiss specialist publication Motorsport Aktuell expresses concerns about the survival of the Mercedes-powered team. It claims that Brawn could not simply change its name to Brawn, therefore keeping Honda's financial status, because while the teams unanimously agreed, Bernie Ecclestone exercised his veto.

Brawn is therefore missing about 22 million (euro) of its projected 2009 budget, in a state of affairs that could date back to a news item in February.

Then, we reported that managers Ross Brawn and Nick Fry turned down the F1 Chief Executive's offer to help complete the buyout.

"They should have taken what I offered," Ecclestone was quoted as saying.

"It was a very good offer for everybody concerned. It gave them complete protection but they wanted to do things on their own. Now all we can do is hope and pray," Ecclestone added.