Brawn team can rediscover form

Ross Brawn is confident his team can rediscover the form that established it as the 2009 benchmark after being trounced by Red Bull Racing in the past two events.

RBR has narrowed Brawn’s lead in both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships with a brace of dominant 1-2s in Britain and Germany, although Jenson Button still has an enviable 21-point cushion over Sebastian Vettel in the drivers’ standings.

While acknowledging the progress that Red Bull has made with its RB5 chassis, Brawn believes his team can fight back in Hungary this weekend thanks to a combination of a new aerodynamic package, the expected hotter temperatures and the sinuous circuit layout.

“The last two races at Silverstone and the Nürburgring have been frustrating for the team as we have not been able to achieve the full potential of our car at the same time as our competitors have taken a good step forward,” he said.

“However we are confident that the inherent performance of the BGP 001 which was demonstrated during the first half of the season has not disappeared and the problems that we faced were unique to the circumstances of those races.



“Our focus now is to maximise the performance that we know is in the car whilst continuing to develop improvements which will maintain our championship challenge.

“We have a significant aerodynamic upgrade for the race in Budapest which will bring performance gains in efficiency, downforce and aero balance; but we face a fierce battle and we must continue to improve for the rest of the season.

“The team has faced many challenges to arrive where we are today and I am confident that we have the people and resources, plus two excellent drivers, to respond and fight to maintain our position of leading the constructors’ and drivers’ championships.”

Button is similarly optimistic of rebounding in Budapest and says the warmer temperatures will be particularly welcome.

“Hungary is always one of my favourite races and even more so this year as it should finally be a return to some real summer temperatures!” said the Briton.

“The circuit holds some very special memories for me as the venue of my first Formula 1 win three years ago and it's fantastic to be going back there with the chance to compete for the win again.”