Branson eyes F1 fuel revolution

Eurosport - Sat, 28 Mar 13:45:00 2009

British entrepreneur Richard Branson said Brawn GP can lead a 'clean fuel' revolution in Formula One after his Virgin Group agreed a sponsorship deal with the sport's newest team.

FORMULA 1 2009 - Virgin chairman Richard Branson poses with Brawn GP drivers Jenson Button (L) of Britain and Rubens Barrichello - 0

The Virgin Atlantic owner, whose interests range from space travel to soft drinks, told a news conference at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix that a Virgin-backed company had developed a clean fuel that could change the series' dirty image.

"Over the next few months we will be trying to talk to Formula One and the various car companies and see if we can have this fuel introduced as the fuel that Formula One uses," he said.

"This sport can go from being a slightly polluting sport to a clean sport. I look forward to working within the sport to try and change it."

Branson later said he was not looking to make money out of the fuel and would be happy to give it to other companies, such as Shell, already involved in the sport and to work with them.

Brawn GP have replaced Honda, who pulled out in December due to the global credit crunch, after a management buyout of the Japanese manufacturer's team by former principal and ex-Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn.

Branson had been seen as a potential buyer of the Honda team when it looked like it might fold.

No financial details were given of a deal that he said he signed four hours before getting on the plane to Australia and that comes at a time when carmakers are being battered by the financial crisis and some major sponsors are leaving.

Branson said he would not have considered F1 without recent measures to reduce costs and make the sport affordable for new entrants while remaining highly innovative.

"In the past I got tempted but decided to try not to be because it was such an expensive sport. But I think the recession is bringing the cost of entry down to a more reasonable level," he said.

"I'm a bit of a cheapskate, when it comes to these things. I like to make everything pay its way," he added.

"The idea of writing out tens of millions of dollars for a sponsorship is just something that Virgin hasn't done in the past or needed to do... but at the right value then it makes sense."

While Brawn chief executive Nick Fry said it was not a title sponsorship, Branson suggested it could become that over the next three or four weeks.

"We're hoping to have a proper marriage quite soon, we're a Virgin bride," he said. "They might find someone comes in and offers them something even better before this bride marries up with them.

"But I think it's more likely than not that we'll get something sorted.

"Naming rights are certainly a possibility. The team don't want to waste the name on something that's not promoting anything. Everybody knows it has a great engineer so it doesn't need to be called after an engineer."

The team's two drivers, Briton Jenson Button and Brazilian Rubens Barrichello, are highly-fancied to win in Melbourne after securing the front row in qualifying.

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Reuters

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  1. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Comment hidden due to its honest and truthful opion .­­­ show
    AND THEN THERES THE 2007 SEASON STEALIN SECRETS­­­ AND­ MCLAREN TEAM GETTING BANNED FROM THE­ COMPETITION­­­ ALTOGETHER. HOW ON EARTH CAN A DRIVER­ WIN A­­­ CHAMPIONSHIP WHEN THE TEAM HE DRIVES FOR ARE­ BANNED­­­ FROM THE COMPETITION ALTOGETHER IT JUST­ DOESNT ADD UP­­­ ,, DOES IT ,, SOMETHING MR HAMILTON­ SON FANS ALWAYS­­­ SEEM TO FAIL TO MENTION ,, SO THATS­ THAT CLEARED UP­­­ THEN 2007 SEASON VOID CONCERNING MR­ HAMILTON SON­­ FANS!!­ THEN WE COME TO THE 2008 SEASON­ OFF THE BACK­­ END OF­ INHERITING THE FERRARI SECRETS­ WITH MR­ HAMILTON­ SON­ BASHIN AND BARGIN OTHER DRIVERS­ ie PIT­ LANE KIMI­ TOTAL­ UNGENTLEMEN LIKE DRIVING IN­ MANYS­ WAYS ,, TO­ THEN GLOK­ DELIVERING THE TITLE ON A­ PLATE­ FOR MR­ HAMILTON SON ,,­ BAD TASTE HOPE WE HAVE­ CLEAN­ AND­ PROPER RACES WITH A­ WORTHY CHAMP IN 2009­
    LOVELY­ TO­ SEE MCLAREN AND MR­ HAMILTON SON AT BACK­ OF­ GRID!!!­ JUSTICE HAS BEEN DONE­ WHAT A LOVELY­ WKEND­ AHEAD

    From , on Sun 29 Mar 2:03AM
  2. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Comment hidden due to its honest and truthful opion .­­­ show
    AND THEN THERES THE 2007 SEASON STEALIN SECRETS­­­ AND­ MCLAREN TEAM GETTING BANNED FROM THE­ COMPETITION­­­ ALTOGETHER. HOW ON EARTH CAN A DRIVER­ WIN A­­­ CHAMPIONSHIP WHEN THE TEAM HE DRIVES FOR ARE­ BANNED­­­ FROM THE COMPETITION ALTOGETHER IT JUST­ DOESNT ADD UP­­­ ,, DOES IT ,, SOMETHING MR HAMILTON­ SON FANS ALWAYS­­­ SEEM TO FAIL TO MENTION ,, SO THATS­ THAT CLEARED UP­­­ THEN 2007 SEASON VOID CONCERNING MR­ HAMILTON SON­­ FANS!!­ THEN WE COME TO THE 2008 SEASON­ OFF THE BACK­­ END OF­ INHERITING THE FERRARI SECRETS­ WITH MR­ HAMILTON­ SON­ BASHIN AND BARGIN OTHER DRIVERS­ ie PIT­ LANE KIMI­ TOTAL­ UNGENTLEMEN LIKE DRIVING IN­ MANYS­ WAYS ,, TO­ THEN GLOK­ DELIVERING THE TITLE ON A­ PLATE­ FOR MR­ HAMILTON SON ,,­ BAD TASTE HOPE WE HAVE­ CLEAN­ AND­ PROPER RACES WITH A­ WORTHY CHAMP IN 2009­
    LOVELY­ TO­ SEE MCLAREN AND MR­ HAMILTON SON AT BACK­ OF­ GRID!!!­ JUSTICE HAS BEEN DONE­ WHAT A LOVELY­ WKEND­ AHEAD

    From , on Sun 29 Mar 2:03AM
  3. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    mea cana nota sleep a too excited a about a 2morow anda­ mr a hamilton asun abak ofa grid i a no some of a you­ thata post musta be a young anda time a change with a­ s.um a labour party a leavin gates open to a good a old­ england a forcing a multi cultural inna society but a­ being a black anda english does a anot a work ita­ impossible toa be english isa to be a white PERIOD so ­ stop a callin a mr a hamilton asun a english NO A WAY ­ british a yes buta never english a never

    From , on Sat 28 Mar 11:57PM
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    mea cana nota sleep a too excited a about a 2morow anda­ mr a hamilton asun abak ofa grid i a no some of a you­ thata post musta be a young anda time a change with a­ s.um a labour party a leavin gates open to a good a old­ england a forcing a multi cultural inna society but a­ being a black anda english does a anot a work ita­ impossible toa be english isa to be a white PERIOD so ­ stop a callin a mr a hamilton asun a english NO A WAY ­ british a yes buta never english a never

    From , on Sat 28 Mar 11:57PM
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    metallica isa muppey you isa cana not a ban a marion a­ she isa yahoo

    From , on Sat 28 Mar 11:57PM

  6. Branson made a slightly polluting sport slightly more­ polluting with this foul-mouthed tirade on BBC this­ morning. Ok so it wasn't that bad, and was more­ entertaining than Jonathan Legard's commentary,­ which was, for want of a better word,­ absolutelyandutterlyappaling.

    From Goldie Looking Berg, on Sat 28 Mar 6:18PM

  7. Oh sorry misread that you said vanished!!

    Still the­ same outcome DULL BA ST AR D:-)))

    From MGA, on Sat 28 Mar 6:03PM

  8. I Hate Metallica

    Yes first coat of varnish on him­ now.
    24hours to dry then a few more coats.
    Then again­ 24 hours between coats
    Unfortunately no matter how­ many coats of varnish you put on he will still be a­ DULL B A S T AR D:-)))

    From MGA, on Sat 28 Mar 5:58PM

  9. She is very cute and I think I am in love with her.

    From , on Sat 28 Mar 5:44PM

  10. Who is this marion bird?

    From , on Sat 28 Mar 5:41PM

  11. Hey man, where has marion gone, hey mga dude have ya­ vanished him?

    From Vivien.mourontoot, on Sat 28 Mar 5:28PM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    AND THEN THERES THE 2007 SEASON STEALIN SECRETS AND­­ MCLAREN TEAM GETTING BANNED FROM THE COMPETITION­­ ALTOGETHER. HOW ON EARTH CAN A DRIVER WIN A­­ CHAMPIONSHIP WHEN THE TEAM HE DRIVES FOR ARE BANNED­­ FROM THE COMPETITION ALTOGETHER IT JUST DOESNT ADD UP­­ ,, DOES IT ,, SOMETHING MR HAMILTON SON FANS ALWAYS­­ SEEM TO FAIL TO MENTION ,, SO THATS THAT CLEARED UP­­ THEN 2007 SEASON VOID CONCERNING MR HAMILTON SON­ FANS!!­ THEN WE COME TO THE 2008 SEASON OFF THE BACK­ END OF­ INHERITING THE FERRARI SECRETS WITH MR HAMILTON­ SON­ BASHIN AND BARGIN OTHER DRIVERS ie PIT LANE KIMI­ TOTAL­ UNGENTLEMEN LIKE DRIVING IN MANYS WAYS ,, TO­ THEN GLOK­ DELIVERING THE TITLE ON A PLATE FOR MR­ HAMILTON SON ,,­ BAD TASTE HOPE WE HAVE CLEAN AND­ PROPER RACES WITH A­ WORTHY CHAMP IN 2009
    LOVELY TO­ SEE MCLAREN AND MR­ HAMILTON SON AT BACK OF GRID!!!­ JUSTICE HAS BEEN DONE­ WHAT A LOVELY WKEND AHEAD

    From , on Sat 28 Mar 5:22PM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    AND THEN THERES THE 2007 SEASON STEALIN SECRETS AND­­ MCLAREN TEAM GETTING BANNED FROM THE COMPETITION­­ ALTOGETHER. HOW ON EARTH CAN A DRIVER WIN A­­ CHAMPIONSHIP WHEN THE TEAM HE DRIVES FOR ARE BANNED­­ FROM THE COMPETITION ALTOGETHER IT JUST DOESNT ADD UP­­ ,, DOES IT ,, SOMETHING MR HAMILTON SON FANS ALWAYS­­ SEEM TO FAIL TO MENTION ,, SO THATS THAT CLEARED UP­­ THEN 2007 SEASON VOID CONCERNING MR HAMILTON SON­ FANS!!­ THEN WE COME TO THE 2008 SEASON OFF THE BACK­ END OF­ INHERITING THE FERRARI SECRETS WITH MR HAMILTON­ SON­ BASHIN AND BARGIN OTHER DRIVERS ie PIT LANE KIMI­ TOTAL­ UNGENTLEMEN LIKE DRIVING IN MANYS WAYS ,, TO­ THEN GLOK­ DELIVERING THE TITLE ON A PLATE FOR MR­ HAMILTON SON ,,­ BAD TASTE HOPE WE HAVE CLEAN AND­ PROPER RACES WITH A­ WORTHY CHAMP IN 2009
    LOVELY TO­ SEE MCLAREN AND MR­ HAMILTON SON AT BACK OF GRID!!!­ JUSTICE HAS BEEN DONE­ WHAT A LOVELY WKEND AHEAD

    From , on Sat 28 Mar 5:22PM

  14. If MARION has been playing with you big boys, can you­ tell him his teas ready now so he has to come in.

    From marionsmummy, on Sat 28 Mar 5:05PM

  15. I Hate Metallica,

    Who's marion? Never heard of­ him:-))

    From MGA, on Sat 28 Mar 4:59PM

  16. Where's the clockwork wonder i want to play out:-))

    From MGA, on Sat 28 Mar 4:57PM

  17. I sense the force, strong in this boy Button.

    From Ernst Werner von Siemens, on Sat 28 Mar 4:54PM

  18. Wht are you such a good sport marion?

    From Vivien.mourontoot, on Sat 28 Mar 4:42PM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    No wait, MARIONs back, thumb him too, thumb him too.

    From Cashel, on Sat 28 Mar 4:34PM

  20. OK cashelbrook will do love.

    From The Gay TV Man, on Sat 28 Mar 4:28PM
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