From GMM
Far from expanding its existing sponsorship of Brawn GP, Virgin is not likely to still be a sponsor of the former Honda squad in 2010, Sir Richard Branson said at Silverstone on Sunday.
The brand joined the livery of the BGP001 shortly after the management buyout, and at the time a full title and possibly naming tie-up was planned.
"We got in when it was very cheap and it's been great for us with global coverage, but I suspect next year the price will be astronomical and we may have to look somewhere else with a smaller team," Branson, thought to be paying Brawn $250,000 per race in 2009, told BBC Five Live.
Meanwhile, the flamboyant British billionaire curiously blamed the "strong personalities" involved in F1 for its current political crisis, and offered to play a role to solve it.
"I think that certain of those personalities on both sides need to know the art of compromise and sense needs to prevail," Branson said. "If I can do anything to help I'd certainly be interested in doing so."
Far from expanding its existing sponsorship of Brawn GP, Virgin is not likely to still be a sponsor of the former Honda squad in 2010, Sir Richard Branson said at Silverstone on Sunday.
The brand joined the livery of the BGP001 shortly after the management buyout, and at the time a full title and possibly naming tie-up was planned.
"We got in when it was very cheap and it's been great for us with global coverage, but I suspect next year the price will be astronomical and we may have to look somewhere else with a smaller team," Branson, thought to be paying Brawn $250,000 per race in 2009, told BBC Five Live.
Meanwhile, the flamboyant British billionaire curiously blamed the "strong personalities" involved in F1 for its current political crisis, and offered to play a role to solve it.
"I think that certain of those personalities on both sides need to know the art of compromise and sense needs to prevail," Branson said. "If I can do anything to help I'd certainly be interested in doing so."