Alexander Wurz Takes Advisory Role with Brawn GP

The fact that Ross Brawn managed to save Honda's F1 team thanks to the management buyout confirmed late last week did not necessarily mean good news for until-then test driver Alexander Wurz. Known to be one of the best test drivers in the F1 paddock, the Austrian admitted he expects his role with Brawn GP to be diminished in the year to come.

Due to the latest changes introduced by the FIA in December last year, the most important of which refers to the in-season testing ban, Wurz will not get to see much of the BGP 001 car in 2009. His only shot at testing the 2009 challenger would have been during this winter testing, but that wasn't possible due to the late launch of Brawn's team.

Given the late development of the BGP 001, Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello will need to make the most of every single lap at Barcelona this week, as well as the team's next (and last) test at Jerez, in order to get the grips on the their 2009 challenger. The car's behavior during the first 2 days of testing at Barcelona is quite promising, as the BGP 001 ranked inside the Top 5 every time.

Nevertheless, Wurz' deal with Brawn GP will not be terminated, as team's new owner insisted the Austrian driver will take on an “advisory role” within the Brackley-based team. The news was confirmed by the former Williams F1 race driver via an interview for APA news agency.

“Work goes on but more in an advisory role. I will work from the driver's perspective but my influence is minimized by the regulations. The great era of the test driver, which I began, is over,” admitted the 35-year old driver.