Brawn responds to Briatore comments

Ross Brawn has hit back at comments made about his team by Renault team principal Flavio Briatore. The issue surrounds television rights, monies paid to teams yearly, of which Brawn is possibly entitled to an estimated €30 million in 2009, as this is the amount which the team received in its previous form as Honda last year. Briatore, however, believes that – as the FIA considers Brawn GP as a new team and not simply a renamed outfit – the English squad should not be entitled to the payments, for the standard first three years of competition. Team owner Ross Brawn feels the matter is one to be resolved confidentially, however, instead of in the public manner highlighted by Briatore.

"I think, change the medication!" Ross said in China. "I would rather not talk about it; it is a shame that he brings those things into the public arena, as it is FOTA (Formula One Teams' Association) business, but that is his style. Flavio is very flamboyant, isn't he? He's great with one-liners, that is his forte, but I'm not so I am not going to respond."

Briatore believes that, with double diffusers – including the one used by Brawn – now officially legal, the €30 million should go towards the other teams' extra expenditure, and be split equally. There are now also fears that FOTA, formed last year, could suffer in the long-term. "Not if we are mature and adult about it," Brawn added. "We have got to learn to fight on the track – and if necessary fight in the courts over the technicalities of the cars – because that is part of it, but also have a strong FOTA outside of it.

"The analogy I keep quoting, of playing rugby, is exactly what it is; we have to learn to separate the two things, and if we learn to separate the two things then FOTA has a great future."