Richard Branson Considers Team Ownership in F1

After enjoying his first ever F1 win as team sponsor at Melbourne this weekend, Sir Richard Branson revealed he is already thinking about owning a team in the Great Circle. Jenson Button's leading the Brawn GP 1-2 at Albert Park certainly made a good impression on the Virgin Group owner, as he now reckons that controlling an F1 team of his own should be his next step.

The 58-year old Englishman flew all the way to Australia for this weekend's F1 opener to announce a sponsorship deal with this year's title contenders (we can call them that after their smashing performance at Albert Park) Brawn GP. The Virgin logo-ed cars dominated the Aussie GP from beginning to end, causing Branson to take a further interest in the sport.

As he now convinced himself that one could perform very strong in Formula One with a limited amount of cash, Branson revealed he is thinking of team ownership in the near future. However, he didn't reveal whether he'll take on the newly-former Brawn GP or start an F1 operation of his own (which, for the moment, seems highly unlikely).

“At the moment we're just sponsors. I mean, one day, Virgin might own a team and name it after itself. We'll have talks,” said Branson during a post-race interview for the BBC. He also made it very clear what caused his sudden high interest in F1.

“They've (Brawn GP) certainly got me addicted so it'd be a good time to sit me down and have a word about upping my interest. I'm sure if Brawn GP keep plying me with champagne and putting gorgeous Virgin girls either side of me, you never know. But on a serious note they deserve supporting,” added the British millionaire.