Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/broadview/3393953562/

In the weeks before it was announced that Ross Brawn would be the new owner of the deceased Honda F1 team, the rumours were doing the rounds that Richard Branson was a potential candidate to become the newest team owner in the Formula 1 paddock. As it has turned out and owner he is not, a major sponsor though he is.

On Saturday morning prior to the second practice session for the opening round of the Formula 1 season at Melbourne’s Albert Park circuit, Branson announced that he would be sponsoring the newly formed Brawn GP team though his Virgin brand. And sure enough the next time the cars rolled out, filling small sections of the pain white cars were Virgin logos, I would imagine that come round 2 we’ll see a much more prominent livery to reflect the sponsorship.

Branson also talked briefly about how he hope to contribute to Formula 1 through areas such as making the sport greener – one way he is hoping to do this is through an eco-friendly fuel that one of his companies has been developing. Like most things, if Richard Branson says he wants something to happen, he will probably make it happen.

I think you’d be hard pressed to find anyone who would see Branson’s involvement in the sport as a negative thing, he wouldn’t be just getting involved for the fun of it (well, maybe a little bit), he means business, as does Ross Brawn.