Brawn feared car would be 'stillborn'...

Ross Brawn has admitted today that he feared his grand prix winning car would be a stillborn after Honda had pulled out of Formula One.
As you will have known by now, Honda pulled out of Formula One after a poor two years performance, coming second from bottom in the constructors in the 2008 season was the last straw for the global car company and therefore deciding to leave the sport.
By the time Honda revealed they would be leaving, Brawns car had been in development for nearly a year and had been the center of the teams focus.
"We knew we had a good car, that we had sacrificed 2008 to get the best car we could, so if it had been stillborn it would have been a major frustration," said Brawn.

"Many things drove the management company forward to try to rescue the company: one of them was obviously to try to continue and save as many jobs as possible.

"But we'd also put all this effort into a car, and for it not to race would have been very, very frustrating.

"The car was starting to come together when Honda made its decision, pieces were starting to be produced and chassis were starting to be made.

"You could see the car starting to come together, with the wind tunnel figures very good.

"It would have been incredibly disappointing if it hadn't raced."

After helping Michael Schumacher win 91 grands prix and seven world titles - two at Benetton and five with Ferrari - Brawn's pride at claiming a victory with his own team cannot be measured.

Naturally, though, he found it difficult to put it into context, adding: "I've been very lucky, so I can't really compare it.

"But it was a very, very special day, quite emotional, on the fact that three weeks ago we didn't know if we would be here. Now we've won a race.

"All victories are wonderful. Winning any race is fantastic, but I feel so pleased and proud for the people in the team because they have not had the experiences I have.

"So for them to experience this race win, after everything that has happened to them over the past four months, it's just tremendous."

Button yesterday revealed Brawn was speechless on the way to the podium, understandably as what had just unfolded over the previous two hours, the weekend, and months previously, would not sink in.

"You sit there and you think 'This can't be true. It can't be happening,"' reflected Brawn.

"You recall where we were a month ago, and it is just sensational."

Given the strength of the car, it is unsurprisingly being talked about now in world-title terms, not just as a race winner.

That is too much for Brawn to comprehend at present, adding: "That is the ambition.

"I don't know that you specifically chase titles. You try to win races, and if you win enough it culminates in a championship.

"There are times you make decisions according to a championship situation, but the first task is to score as many points as possible and win races.

"We really don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves. Getting to Melbourne and having a good car is fantastic.

"We have to enjoy that part, although it will fade pretty quickly, and then we'll again just try to do as well as we can."

One sad factor is the team are to make 270 staff redundant, cutting their workforce from 700 to 430, as they have to start saving money.

"We've managed to save the majority of jobs, although it's tragic we can't keep all the people we had under Honda," added Brawn.

"The regulation changes and budgets to which we must adhere mean we can't keep everybody.

"For me and the management group, it's a reward to have the company continue."

When asked as to what is resting on it for him personally, he said: "I guess it's ambition, fulfilment and the desire for this company to continue. It's a great group of people.

"I've worked for some wonderful teams and this is as good as any. I think they've proved that with the car they've produced."