Virgin Brawn No More?

[Koz]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8111469.stm


Virgin helped Brawn GP get off the ground when they formed after Honda pulled out of F1 in December 2008.

But the team's success is set to see their sponsorship rates rise.

"I suspect next year the price will be astronomical and we may have to look somewhere else with a smaller team," Branson told Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek.

Brawn GP's Jenson Button currently leads the drivers' standings, while the team are also top of the constructors' championship ahead of Sunday's British GP.

As a result, Ross Brawn's outfit has become a more attractive proposition for sponsorship, although Branson says his company have earned the benefit they wanted from the partnership.

"We have most likely got the mileage we needed from it," he added. "Their [Brawn GP's] value has gone from next to nothing to £50m a year and we're delighted for them."

With the budget-cap row in F1 reaching crisis point this week after eight leading teams - including Brawn - announced plans for a breakaway series, sponsorship is a key issue as teams and investors alike wait to see what form of competition goes ahead in 2010.

Branson called for "sense to prevail" and the sport to remain unified as the opposing sides seek a way forward.


"I think it would be a great pity [for them to split]," he said. "Both sides need to sit down and sense needs to prevail.

"There are good arguments on both sides. Certainly the cost base of Formula 1 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."

If a split does happen and a rival championship established, Brawn admits his team will need financial support from their cash-rich rivals to thrive.

"There has to be a structure which supports the small teams," said the team chief, whose outfit have no funding in place for 2010.

"I'm confident a system will be in place to provide the funding that teams like mine will need."

Brawn dismissed concern that a new championship made of teams from the Formula One Teams Association (Fota) could not match the financial pull of the historic Formula 1 brand.

"I think the Fota teams are confident that their sponsors will follow them into this championship," he said Brawn.

"They've had discussions with their sponsors and a lot of people see this as a new and exciting opportunity to re-shape Formula One."

I am begining Mister Max with his budget cap is right and prices should be dropped...

Hope it doesn't happen.

[wmcot]

So Branson has been in F1 for 6 months or so and is the expert on what is best for the sport? More likely that Brawn lost one race so he wants to pull his money out!

Feel free to hop into a balloon since F1 has lost your interest...

[Valve Bounce]

So Branson has been in F1 for 6 months or so and is the expert on what is best for the sport? More likely that Brawn lost one race so he wants to pull his money out!

Feel free to hop into a balloon since F1 has lost your interest...

Nah!! he made a play for bunsen's bird, and bunsen got all hot under the collar. Heated words were exchanged and it seems Branson is looking for a cooler "arrangement" where he won't get his fingers burnt.

[Koz]

So Branson has been in F1 for 6 months or so and is the expert on what is best for the sport? More likely that Brawn lost one race so he wants to pull his money out!

Feel free to hop into a balloon since F1 has lost your interest...

What I meant was, that a team that are already pretty double champions are having trouble securing sponsors.
Has nothing to do with them winning a single race or not, they have had enough publicity with their "rags-to-riches" performance this season.

We all know honda "financed" them this season but what about next season?
McLaren, BMW, Ferrari will never lack sponsers to race, but what about these guys?
Will they be able to secure enough funds to make a car capable of defending their championships next year?

Sure Branson hasn't been in F1 even a year, but surely something is wrong with this picture?

Yeah, I don't want to see a cheapo series, I want to see the best of the best competing for the gold, but if champions one year and not affording to race the next year, well that's just wrong.

[nigelred5]

I agree, he's essentially enjoying primary sponsorship on a fully funded potential championship team for peanuts, but who knows what they have for a budget next year. He's been pretty open that he's not going to break the bank on a team with an unknown future beyond this season. Branson's no fool.

[keysersoze]

This is a man who, by his own admission, has turned down hundreds of prior offers to sponsor an F1 team. At a paltry (for F1) 250K per race, Branson strikes me as a publicity hound, and a cheap one at that.

His modus operandi seems to be: flash his billions to get face time on TV, then never close a long-term deal.

Branson needs to spend a few hundred on a haircut and some dental work. Get that ugly man off the grid. :p :

[Valve Bounce]

Well, you can always fly QANTAS instead. ;)

[Koz]

Anyone know how exactly much he "funded" Brawn this year?


Well, you can always fly QANTAS instead. ;)

Bugger me, I ain't flying on one of those.. er.. road kill er.. air kill?? I'm too young to be swimming in the middle of the tasman! :p

[markabilly]

This is a man who, by his own admission, has turned down hundreds of prior offers to sponsor an F1 team. At a paltry (for F1) 250K per race, Branson strikes me as a publicity hound, and a cheap one at that.

His modus operandi seems to be: flash his billions to get face time on TV, then never close a long-term deal.

Branson needs to spend a few hundred on a haircut and some dental work. Get that ugly man off the grid. :p :
yep, scuzzy old goat who is into virgins, but he does make max and benrei look like they have some class compared to him

looks and acts like one of those classic dirty old men, who were into wishing they could be a porno stars in the early seventies

[leopard]

I think it's only about team name, virgin can stay supporting Brawn without having to put their name on the official team name. They may need to pouring forth more money if they want the team name to use their name. It's fairly logically acceptable if Brawn ask more premium for amount from sponsors, considering a) inflation, and b) Brawn is currently a skyrocketing team which rise quickly into the sky and have competence in the next season that flight of sponsors follow a predictable course.

It's only name, I wouldn't complain for anybody using my name or my avatar if I don't see it relevant and refer to something different...

[MrJan]

This is a man who, by his own admission, has turned down hundreds of prior offers to sponsor an F1 team. At a paltry (for F1) 250K per race, Branson strikes me as a publicity hound, and a cheap one at that.

His modus operandi seems to be: flash his billions to get face time on TV, then never close a long-term deal.

Branson needs to spend a few hundred on a haircut and some dental work. Get that ugly man off the grid. :p :

He's a business man FFS. He is only there to get the publicity for his company and it's worked wonders as his logo is all over the place. If you think that the majority of sponsors in F1 are there for the love of the sport then you are terribly naive.

F1 fans make I larf, so many seem to be stupidly short sighted and closed off from the reality of what the sport actually is.

[Knock-on]

He's a business man FFS. He is only there to get the publicity for his company and it's worked wonders as his logo is all over the place. If you think that the majority of sponsors in F1 are there for the love of the sport then you are terribly naive.

F1 fans make I larf, so many seem to be stupidly short sighted and closed off from the reality of what the sport actually is.

:laugh:

Glad someone said it :up:

I'm gratefull to Richard for putting the money into the Brawn venture and cannot understand the criticism?

[Saint Devote]

So Branson has been in F1 for 6 months or so and is the expert on what is best for the sport? More likely that Brawn lost one race so he wants to pull his money out!

Feel free to hop into a balloon since F1 has lost your interest...

The issue is not Branson and formula 1, the issue is a man who understands commerce in abstract terms and is able therefore to apply it to any concretes.

It is not accident or "good fortune" that Branson has taken grass root ideas to incredible fruition.

And does he understand a racing team? Have you heard of Virgin Galactic? Essentially this is no different to having racing team.

Heed ought to be taken of Branson and nurturing involvement of such a man ought to be a priority. The issue is not money, it is value and endurability.

Again, the situation in f1 was artificial and could not last. To his credit Mosely understood this first and while his methods have irritated people, it does not make him wrong.

[ioan]

Again, the situation in f1 was artificial and could not last.

Free market regulates itself, no matter what the commies might say.

[Malbec]

What I meant was, that a team that are already pretty double champions are having trouble securing sponsors.
Has nothing to do with them winning a single race or not, they have had enough publicity with their "rags-to-riches" performance this season.

Sure Branson hasn't been in F1 even a year, but surely something is wrong with this picture?

Its not F1 that is too expensive, its Branson thats too cheap for F1.

His business model is always to get someone else to foot the bill and put the Virgin name on their venture for a small profit for himself with minimal investment on his part. He wasn't going to change the habit of a lifetime just for F1. He invested in Brawn when they were on their knees and were willing to accept anything. As soon as Brawn started asking for their market value he wasn't willing to raise his investment and got priced out.

Brawn will find a sponsor but it was never going to be Virgin.

[keysersoze]

If you think that the majority of sponsors in F1 are there for the love of the sport then you are terribly naive.

I didn't realize I said that. Let me check . . . no, I didn't say that. :rolleyes:

[keysersoze]

He's a business man FFS. He is only there to get the publicity for his company and it's worked wonders as his logo is all over the place.

I haven't been to any of the races so I can't dispute your assertion that "his logo is all over the place." The only place I clearly see it is in front of the driver's cowling on the Brawn GP.

[keysersoze]

F1 fans make I larf, so many seem to be stupidly short sighted and closed off from the reality of what the sport actually is.

I didn't understand the first part of this quote, perhaps you'd like to try it again.

Perhaps you'd like to start a thread and enlighten the dummies here about the "reality of the what the sport actually is" but in the past, Richard Branson was famous for the Virgin brand, but NOW Richard Branson is famous . . . for being Richard Branson.

Kinda like Paris Hilton. And, like Paris, Richard is an annoying presence because his presence is, it seems, unjustified.

[Knock-on]

I think Virgin is moving over to sponsor Manor.

[BDunnell]

Its not F1 that is too expensive, its Branson thats too cheap for F1.

His business model is always to get someone else to foot the bill and put the Virgin name on their venture for a small profit for himself with minimal investment on his part. He wasn't going to change the habit of a lifetime just for F1. He invested in Brawn when they were on their knees and were willing to accept anything. As soon as Brawn started asking for their market value he wasn't willing to raise his investment and got priced out.

Brawn will find a sponsor but it was never going to be Virgin.

You are spot on. Sponsorship from Branson is never the answer to anyone's prayers. And the idea that there should be more like him is laughable. What, more people who start out in business with a tax dodge?

[I am evil Homer]

Free market regulates itself, no matter what the commies might say.

Current financial mess says that simply doesn't work

[Knock-on]

Current financial mess says that simply doesn't work

Totally agree.

A great example of no regulation being FOM's award of a million year contract to run F1 for the princely sum of £3.21 and the subsequant backhander of £squillions back to Max by Bernie for the deal.

The EU was trying to regulate the situation if I remember correctly but a self regulating deal on a promise of open tender put paid to that!

[ClarkFan]

So Branson has been in F1 for 6 months or so and is the expert on what is best for the sport? More likely that Brawn lost one race so he wants to pull his money out!

Feel free to hop into a balloon since F1 has lost your interest...

OK, the Branson enterprises that I am aware of are an airline and a series of recorded music shops (which are rapidly closing). If that is it, those aren't exactly booming businesses right now. Perhaps Branson is a billionaire, but needs a - sign in front of the billion instead of a +?

ClarkFan

[ioan]

Current financial mess says that simply doesn't work

There is a crisis every now and than, it's role is to regulate the market when things are getting out of hand.

I prefer free market to the opposite alternative while I doubt that human beings are smart enough to keep to the middle road. ;)