Mercedes-Powered Former Brawn GP Team Wins Laureus Award
March 10, 2010 by Christine
Filed under Press Releases
The Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony took place today at the stunning Emirates Palace hotel in Abu Dhabi. Reigning Formula One Constructors’ World Champions Brawn GP (now MERCEDES GP PETRONAS) won the Laureus Team of the Year Award, and former Brawn GP driver Jenson Button, the reigning Formula One World Champion, won in the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year category.
During the three-day period leading up to the Awards ceremony, Mercedes-Benz DTM drivers Susie Stoddart and Bruno Spengler have been taking specially invited visitors on ‘taxi rides’ around the new Abu Dhabi GP circuit in two Mercedes-Benz DTM racing cars. Their illustrious passengers included the German film star Mario Adorf and his wife, England football manager Fabio Capello, world champion surfer Robby Naish, TV presenter Sabine Christiansen and multiple tennis Grand Slam winner Arantxa Sanchez Vicario.
Amongst the guests at the Laureus Awards ceremony were motorcycling legend Giacomo Agostini, Olympic and World Championship winning pole-vaulter Sergey Bubka, former Formula One world champions Emerson Fittipaldi and Mika Häkkinen, Wimbledon ace Boris Becker, former world champion boxer Henry Maske and ex-McLaren Mercedes Formula One driver David Coulthard.
Nick Fry, Chief Executive Officer at MERCEDES GP PETRONAS, attended the event at the Emirates Palace this evening and collected the Team of Year Award on behalf of the former Brawn GP team.
The Laureus World Sports Awards, which have been handed out annually since 2000, rank amongst the most prestigious sporting accolades in the world. A Laureus has the cachet of a sports Oscar.
Amongst the former winners are Michael Schumacher (now driving for MERCEDES GP PETRONAS), Vodafone McLaren Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton, football colossus Franz Beckenbauer, boxing world champion Vitaly Klitschko, tennis ace Roger Federer, Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong and golf pro Tiger Woods.
Brawn GP – Ross Brawn Receives OBE in New Years Honours List
January 4, 2010 by Christine
Filed under Press Releases
Everyone at the Team would like to congratulate Team Principal Ross Brawn who received an OBE in the Queens New Years Honours List on 1 January for his services to motorsport over the past 33 years.
Ross commented: “I am surprised and delighted to have been chosen to receive the award of an OBE in the New Years Honours List. Receiving this award is a great personal honour for me however it is only through the dedication and commitment of the many talented people I have worked with and the unstinting support of my family which have led to this award. I am very grateful to everyone involved and pleased that the achievements of everyone at the Brawn GP Formula One Team in particular have been recognised in this way.”
Jenson Button received an MBE on the same occasion in recognition of his achivement of the Formula One World Drivers Championship with Brawn GP.
Jenson said: “This really is the crowning glory to what has been the most incredible year of my life. Everybody at Brawn played their part. It was down to their expertise, dedication and hard work that we were able to achieve so much. We literally started with nothing, but had the belief, determination and passion to take on the world and succeed. Many people played a role in my World Championship – and in receiving this award, I want to acknowledge and thank them for all their efforts. To be recognised by the Queen and the British people is a tremendous honour.”
Chasing Tails
January 4, 2010 by Christine
Filed under F1 Big Picture
Jenson Button follows Robert Kubica during a test session in Barcelona during March 2009. Button has been introduced as an official McLaren driver now, posing in the team gear and next to the car. Meanwhile, Kubica’s manager is pretty sure his driver will line up on the grid in Bahrain for Renault, after clearing up any doubts they had about the team’s new investors.
Credit: BMW AG
Jenson Button Honoured in Her Majesty the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List
January 1, 2010 by Mr. C
Filed under Press Releases
Jenson Button has described receiving the MBE as ‘the crowning glory’ of his year after being honoured in Her Majesty The Queen’s new year’s honours list.
The 29-year-old was recognised for his outstanding contribution to British sport after taking six grand prix victories and winning the 2009 Formula 1 world championship.
Jenson said: “I’m incredibly proud to have joined the likes of Mike Hawthorn, Graham Hill, Jim Clark, John Surtees, Sir Jackie Stewart, James Hunt, Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill and Lewis Hamilton as British Formula 1 world champion. But to be recognised by Her Majesty The Queen and the British people is a tremendous honour for me.
“This really is the crowning glory to what has been the most incredible year of my life.
“The past 12 months have provided me with such an exhilarating journey. We literally started with nothing, but had the belief, determination and passion to take on the world and succeed. Everybody at Brawn GP played their part – and it was down to their expertise, dedication and hard work that we were able to achieve so much.
“Many people played a role in my world championship – and in receiving this award, I want to acknowledge and thank them for all their efforts.
“For 2010, I am starting another exciting chapter in my career – and I am already looking forward to representing Great Britain on the world’s sporting stage and successfully defending my world championship.”
Brawn GP Take on the Manchester Velodrome
December 11, 2009 by Christine
Filed under Press Releases
On Wednesday 9 December, a team of Brawn GP employees were invited to Manchester by Britain’s Team Sky to prove that they are as fast on two wheels as on four wheels at the legendary Manchester Velodrome.
The group, including race engineers Andrew Shovlin and Peter Bonnington amongst others, had a practice session on the track to get used to the challenging layout and have a go on the spectacular banking. Following some coaching and words of advice from members of the British Cycling Team, Manchester Velodrome and British Cycling personnel, the guys then participated in a short pursuit race before being joined on the track by Beijing Olympics gold medal winner Geraint Thomas.
The Brawn GP guys then had the chance to visit the Science and Technology department at the English Institute of Sport and witnessed that Formula One and cycling share a lot of similarities from the level of details that goes into winning to the passion demonstrated by everyone involved.
A very happy Peter Bonnington said afterwards: “Riding at Manchester Velodrome was a truly awesome experience and meeting some of the Olympians made it a day to remember. We were hugely impressed by the level of detail that goes into making a world beating team and how everyone was so focused and passionate about their sport. Thank you on behalf of everyone who attended on the day from Brawn GP to all of those at British Cycling who made this visit possible.”
Brawn – BGP 001 Voted Racing Car of the Year at Autosport Awards
December 8, 2009 by Christine
Filed under Press Releases
Brawn GP’s championship winning car, the Brawn-Mercedes BGP 001, was voted Racing Car of the Year on Sunday night at the prestigious annual Autosport Awards Ceremony in London. The team’s Principal Aerodynamicist John Owen and Design Manager Russell Cooley picked up the trophy from on the night from 1996 Formula One World Champion Damon Hill.
Russell and John were delighted to receive the award on behalf of the team. John commented: “It was our intention to be successful this year and that is what made us so determined over the difficult winter months. We were hopeful from our simulations that the car would be quick and it was a wonderful distraction from everything that was going on. It was quite easy in a way to focus on our jobs because we never stopped to wonder what might happen if we didnt survive. We trusted in Ross and Nick to save the team. This year was the result of a fantastic team effort from everyone at Brawn GP and Mercedes-Benz High Performance Engines and this is a well-deserved tribute for all the people involved.”
Jenson Button received the British Competition Driver of the Year and the International Racing Driver of the Year Award. During his acceptance speech, Jenson praised his engineers Andrew Shovlin and Peter Bonnington for their work during the season: “I have been with the team at Brawn GP for seven years and worked with some wonderful people. My engineers are at my table tonight and this award goes to them because awards dont normally go to engineers.”
Brawn GP – Jerez Test Report – Thursday
December 3, 2009 by Christine
Filed under Press Releases
The third and final day of the Young Driver test in Jerez got underway this morning with overnight rain resulting in a damp track for the early laps. Mike Conway and Marcus Ericsson were again in action for the team with Mike completing 77 laps in the morning and Marcus taking over the car for the afternoon and completing 49 laps as the pair concluded the test programme by working through a series of set-up evaluations.
Mike Conway
“I’ve really enjoyed the last few days in Jerez and it was great to be asked back by the team to take part in the testing programme. The team had a great season and the chance to drive the World Championship winning car and experience its performance for myself has been amazing. We achieved some good work and it has been a nice way to end the season. Thanks to the team for giving me this opportunity.”
Marcus Ericsson
“It’s been a very exciting week and a dream come true to have the opportunity to drive a Formula One car particularly with the World Championship winning team. It’s been a really good experience for me to work with such a professional team and I am thankful to Brawn GP and Mercedes for giving me this opportunity. The car is very impressive. It’s so quick and the biggest difference from the F3 car has to be the power of the braking. I feel that I have adapted well to the car this week and I’m very happy with the progress that I have made.”
Ross Brawn
“Mike and Marcus have done a very good job during the test in Jerez this week. It has been a busy programme with a wide variety of test items to cover and their technical input has been to a very high standard. We know Mike well from his previous tests with the team and his feedback has been to his usual excellent standard. Marcus had his first opportunity in a Formula One car this week and he has performed very well showing exceptional maturity in his approach and feedback.”
RESULTS (All timings are unofficial)
Pos Driver Car Time Laps
1. Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull Renault 1:17.418 77
2. Paul Di Resta Force India Mercedes 1:18.736 53
3. Gary Paffett McLaren Mercedes 1:18.746 59
4. Mike Conway Brawn Mercedes 1:19.096 77
5. Nico Hulkenberg Williams Toyota 1:19.226 106
6. Bertrand Baguette BMW Sauber 1:19.356 70
7. Oliver Turvey McLaren Mercedes 1:19.358 32
8. Marcus Ericsson Brawn Mercedes 1:19.382 49
9. Lucas Di Grassi Renault 1:19.602 123
10. JR Hildebrand Force India Mercedes 1:19.873 41
11. Pablo Sanchez Lopez Ferrari 1:21.068 39
12. Daniel Zampieri Ferrari 1:21.279 42
13. Marco Zipoli Ferrari 1:21.725 41
14. Brendon Hartley Toro Rosso Ferrari 1:22.493 50
15. Mirko Bortolotti Toro Rosso Ferrari 1:23.271 34
16. Ho-Pin Tung Renault 1:32.477 4
Brawn GP – Jerez Test Report – Wednesday
December 2, 2009 by Christine
Filed under Press Releases
The second day of the Young Driver test in Jerez got underway this morning with Mike Conway continuing his driving duties in the Brawn-Mercedes BGP 001 car. Mike worked through a number of set-up changes with the car before a short rain shower briefly interrupted the track action. He continued his programme after lunch for a further three runs to complete 83 laps in total today.
Marcus Ericsson took over the BGP 001 to conclude the team’s programme for the remainder of the afternoon session. Marcus completed 37 laps as he continued his familiarisation programme with the car.
RESULTS (All timings are unofficial)
Pos Driver Car Time Laps
1. Gary Paffett McLaren Mercedes 1:18.718 80
2. Nico Hulkenberg Williams Toyota 1:19.184 94
3. Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull Renault 1:19.243 92
4. Paul Di Resta Force India Mercedes 1:19.411 58
5. Esteban Gutierrez BMW Sauber 1:20.190 68
6. Mike Conway Brawn Mercedes 1:20.222 83
7. Marcus Ericsson Brawn Mercedes 1:20.440 37
8. JR Hildebrand Force India Mercedes 1:20.517 49
9. Jules Bianchi Ferrari 1:20.586 113
10. Lucas Di Grassi Renault 1:20.898 54
11. Ho-Pin Tung Renault 1:21.492 67
12. Mirko Bortolotti Toro Rosso Ferrari 1:21.761 79
Brawn GP – Jerez Test Report – Tuesday
December 1, 2009 by Christine
Filed under Press Releases
Mike began the on-track action this morning completing 58 laps as he acclimatised to the car and then worked through an aerodynamic evaluation. Marcus took over for the afternoon session for his first drive in a Formula One car and had the opportunity to familiarise himself with the BGP 001 and the circuit over 50 laps.
RESULTS (All timings are unofficial)
Pos Driver Car Time Laps
1. Andy Soucek Williams 1:19.158 87
2. Paul Di Resta Force India 1:19.369 46
3. Gary Paffett McLaren 1:19.426 54
4. Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull 1:19.534 113
5. Jules Bianchi Ferrari 1:19.626 91
6. Mike Conway Brawn-Mercedes 1:19.920 58
7. Alexander Rossi BMW Sauber 1:20.227 82
8. Marcus Ericsson Brawn-Mercedes 1:20.333 50
9. Bertrand Baguette Renault 1:20.511 105
10. JR Hildebrand Force India 1:20.537 49
11. Oliver Turvey McLaren 1:20.856 27
12. Brendon Hartley Toro Rosso 1:21.325 69
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