[Team] Will Brawn GP become Mercedes Virgin GP

[OZ_HCR32]

If McLaren are going to go back to the good old Mansell/Andretti years where they were less then competitive against Williams/Benetton/Ferrari etc what are the chances of Mercedes taking some sort of name sponsorship of the soon to be Virgin Racing?

As far as i am aware it was Brawn GP, with no mention of Mercedes in the teams name?

What share of McLaren does Mercedes have?

[Eurosnob]

Will Brawn become...?

If the price is right I'm sure it could become your Aunt Martha. So yes, for enough $$$.

[Born Racer]

As far as i am aware it was Brawn GP, with no mention of Mercedes in the teams name?

But the graphics have been showing Brawn-Mercedes.

[Chatters]

Originally Posted by Born Racer

But the graphics have been showing Brawn-Mercedes.

Just like it shows Red Bull as RBR-Renault and Force India as Force India-Mercedes. It's team name - engine.

[calibrax]

The standard format is title sponsor/constructor/engine, i.e. Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. So, if anything, it will be Virgin Brawn Mercedes. Which makes Ross look like he's never had a woman!

[neilap]

I think with enough money Brawn will be willing to drop his name. Right now it seems this is being discussed. Virgin Mercedes might be the official name by 4 weeks time.

[ChrisPage]

Brawn did say in the coverage that the name wasn't great and it just kind of happened.

But I don't think I would like Virgin GP any more!

[Dutton]

The thing that is relevant is changes in ownership, and such. Clearly, a name is only a name (makes no difference if the name changes but ownership doesn't). I doubt Brawn is precious about the name, but I wouldn't even begin to guess at his thoughts RE ownership.

As far as Mercedes dumping Mclaren? It is surely possible, but they'd have to find buyers for their shares (and I find it unlikely they will leave, anyway). I know Mercedes were at 40% once, but them upto 60% now is rattling around in my head. Anyone got a clear idea? I cannot see Mercedes going to title naming with Brawn as long as they are so intertwined with Mclaren (it wouldn't exactly go down well, would it?).

[Adam43]

Look at all those cookoos in that land.

[Teretonga]

Mercedes own 40% of McLaren.
Ron an Ojeh hold 15% each and the Saudi company hold 30%

I could see a partially subsidised engine deal for 2009 if McLaren lags a bit in development but really McLaren were sublime with Hamilton in Australia, got the most out of the package

[Burnsie]

Originally Posted by OZ_HCR32

As far as i am aware it was Brawn GP, with no mention of Mercedes in the teams name?

Correct. The team's name is Brawn GP Formula One Team.

[gomick]

I hope virgin come up with a good paint job - those brawn cars needs one quickly...

[Dutton]

I always want to know why names end up so complicated. Brawn GP (or just Brawn) would be so much better than Brawn GP Formula One Team.

[Malfunction Junction]

How about;

An offal purveyer

An innovative Branson brand using an abbreviation of the broader image

The team principal



Brain V Brawn!



I'll get me coat.....

[Knowlesy]

Originally Posted by gomick

I hope virgin come up with a good paint job - those brawn cars needs one quickly...

I really like the current livery!

[spider]

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

I really like the current livery!

Me too! Best looking car by quite a long shot, for me!

[ThaRobster]

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

I really like the current livery!

Agreed, I really like it too. Plus, I'm not sure the grid needs yet another predominantly white and red car. Am I the only one who'd has enough of that? Marlboro McLaren, then Ferrari, now Vodafone (and still Marlboro sponsor Ferrari), can we have something different?

[ensign14]

Mercedes Virgin? Sounds like a character in one of those films Jacqui Smith's husband enjoys so much.

[ivanalesi]

I was just browsing through SBK pics and it occured to me that Brawn's livery is actually very very similar to Hannspree Ten Kate Honda's!
Here is Carlos Checa:

[ivanalesi]

May be it's not a coincidence, similar livery and Honda

[Burnsie]

Forget Virgin for the moment, perhaps now would be a good time for Ross Brawn to pick up the phone to Mr Vodafone, to see if he would consider becoming the Brawn GP title sponsor? As I said in another thread...

Originally Posted by Burnsie

Regardless of how McLaren are punished by the FIA, how are they going to be punished by their sponsors? Are Vodafone going to continue funding a team which seems to attract an extraordinary amount of bad press? Yes they have the 2008 World Champion on board, but perhaps Brawn GP have the 2009 World Champion on board...?

[Mr V]

Originally Posted by gomick

I hope virgin come up with a good paint job - those brawn cars needs one quickly...

I like the paint job, it's those awful wheel covers i can't stand! Black, maybe, but yellow? No way!!

[Lotusonpole]

Originally Posted by Mr V

I like the paint job, it's those awful wheel covers i can't stand! Black, maybe, but yellow? No way!!

My feelings exactly.
The wheel covers are just too much.
But for the livery as a whole I quite like it. It certainly stands out on the track there's no mistake.

On the re-name thread.
Going back many years didn't Lotus re-name their cars JPS?
And no-one took a blind bit of notice continuing to call them Team Lotus or at best JPS Team Lotus.

[Fox89]

If it means Brawn get a bit more money, I hope they do get renamed. I would quite happily see them as "Virgin Vodafone IGN Costa WHSMITH - Mercedes" if it gave them a nice fat tasty budget to stay competitive with.

[Clive]

What's in a name? and I like the livery too, and the wheel covers. nice to see a touch of flair!