UpdateF1 >> Formula 1 News > Brawn to attend Jerez test

Honda chief to 'meet the team'

Dec.3 (GMM) Ross Brawn will this week make his first public appearance in his new capacity as Honda team principal.

The former long time Ferrari technical director, who started work at the Japanese team's Brackley (UK) base last Monday, is set to attend the first of four days at the last test of 2007 at Jerez.

"Yes, I will be there on Tuesday," Brawn, 52, confirmed on Monday to F1's official website.

"I just want to have a look at the team, to meet them and have a first picture of how it all works," the Briton said.

Coinciding with Michael Schumacher's retirement, Brawn took a sabbatical in 2007, travelling with his wife to holiday and fishing destinations including South America, New Zealand and Russia.

Curiously, he said he never intended to return to the Ferrari team, and denied that the espionage scandal motivated him to eye a different challenge.

"No, that was not an issue," Brawn explained.

"At the end of 2004 I signed a new two-year contract with Ferrari, knowing that this was the last contract that I wanted to do as it was then the end of a ten year period," he said.

Brawn also seemed to play down speculation that Rubens Barrichello - whom he worked with at Ferrari - could be pushed aside for next year, possibly to make way for Fernando Alonso.

"Rubens has one year remaining of his contract," Brawn insisted.

"Personally I think there is no reason not to continue with them as both have proven that they can win races and they are both on very high standards. I don't have any concerns about the drivers.

"There are much bigger challenges for the team overall and for me than the drivers," he added.

Written: Tue, 04 Dec 2007 09:41:20