Brawn 2010 budget staying in the black
At the Monaco Grand Prix Brawn CEO Nick Fry spoke about the planned 2010 car development and budget. Earlier in the season Brawn GP had many medium term sponsors such as Virgin who agreed a race by race deal and Brawn GP were seeking long term sponsors to provide stability.
Although for 2010 they do not have a title sponsor or major brand involvement Nick Fry has confirmed that they have the budget to start developing next season’s car now.
Nick Fry said
There is no issue whatsoever with funding through this year, … Even if we didn’t get another penny in sponsorship we’d be able to do what we need to do. … We are using our money wisely and that means spending it on the performance of the car and the whole team, including Ross and I, going EasyJet – that’s how it should be, that’s what you do in constrained economic environments…. But as far as development of the car goes we are in good shape.
Speaking of the hunt for new sponsors he said
The beauty in our situation is that we don’t need to take the first deal that comes along; indeed we haven’t taken the first deal that comes along because we don’t need to, We want to do what’s right for three years and even five years out, and that’s what we are trying to do at the moment. If we can do that it will be wonderful for us because then we can get on with the racing and be working with partners that will be developing their brands alongside and we maybe relax at least on one front.
Stage two of the Virgin deal is still yet to happen which has resulted in many rumors of other brands interested in sponsoring Brawn GP. Nick Fry has said they are “close to several commerical agreements” but has not exagarated on this.
One noticable sponsor missing from the team is Mercedes the Brawn GP engine supplier. It is understood that Brawn GP are just a customer of Mercedes and there is currently no sponsorship / promotion, so Mercedes isn’t able to advertise based on the fact they power Brawn GP. Surely they must want this to change and to get the Mercedes silver star on the front of the Brawn GP cars!
