Brawn optimistic over 2010 involvement

Ross Brawn is "completely confident" his team will be competing in Formula One next season.

Brawn has confirmed his team have already spent the past few weeks working on next year's F1 car, suggesting they will be around from 2010.

"I'm completely confident (we will be in F1 next season), and you have to plan on that," asserted Brawn.

"There's nothing else to plan for. We cannot allow this row to be a distraction to our engineering and racing plans.

"I'm not supporting a breakaway championship, but if there was one, then it would be one with cars similar to what we are working on now, which will be without re-fuelling."

Brawn GP were told by motor sport's world governing body, the FIA, on Friday they must submit an unconditional entry by this Friday if they want to compete in next year's world championship.

McLaren, BMW Sauber, Renault and Toyota are in the same position, leaving a cloud hanging over the sport going into this weekend's British Grand Prix.

There remain issues between the Formula One Teams' Association and the FIA, in particular over governance as well as the logistics of policing what Brawn describes as 'resource control' rather than a budget cap.

However, as F1 is Brawn GP's only means of business, in comparison to BMW, Renault and Toyota who compete in other motor sports and have road car divisions, it would appear imperative the impasse is resolved this week.

"I hope it will be," remarked Brawn. "Although I'm not sure it will mean we are out of business by the end of the week. I don't think it's at that level."