Nobody knows - there's been no official word. The Mercedes, Ferrari, Toro Rosso, Lotus, Campos, Virgin and USF1 designations all remain unknown, for now.

Apparently Brawn were the victim of a big scam involving Henkel as (supposedly 90 million euro) sponsors.
http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/formel-...-1-1562884.html

I will try to translate when I'm home.

Hmmm, Fry and sponsors.

Why am I not surprised ...

Where Michael goes where money follows,... at least till now... So we will see Schumacher very soon in the Brawn out fit?

Maybe Nick agrees to be Mercedes third driver for this year, providing he gets the seat in 2011, after Schumachers one year deal is expired?

Frans is going to have so many people aiming comments at him WHEN Schumacher is confirmed at Mercedes GP for 2010...

Mercedes in legal dispute with sponsor

Just 2 more small hurdles.
1...Ferrari contract
2...Medical OK for neck

I don't understand how Brawn can sign a sponshorship deal of such a magnitude, without having at least shaken hands with the CEO of Henkel...
They clearly lack experience at Brawn when it comes to acquiring sponsors.

Lost JB, desperately looking to sign MS to save face and now this; it's not just raining, it is pouring...

Yes, that seems rather shockingly poor business acumen on their part. I can only hope they've got other offers as well.

It's too bad as well because I would think Henkel would have made a good sponsor for the team itself.

I don't know if this has already been posted today.

So Henkel out? There goes the Schumacher budget then!

more here

When the Henkel deal was done with Brawn, they informed Mercedes.
The chairman then called the chairman of Henkel, who knew nothing about this.
It was therefore Mercedes that uncovered the fraud.

IF it is as simple and straight forward like that, why then is Henkel suing Brawn?

To get the money back.

I wasn't aware money had changed hands. The papers were forged to obtain a loan from the bank so I don't see Henkel's account department paying out in the first place.

Henkel suing Brawn? Where did you read that?

Mercedes is arguing that the deal stands and thus want money from Henkel (not the other way around).
At leats, that's how I understand it.

Hopefully the other agreements with bwin, Becks or Orange will be fine.

Henkel suing Brawn

They're not suing them!

That's just hilarious.
Fry makes a deal worth 90 mio and never meets the CEO of Henkel?
I mean, 90 mio. That's almost 2 budgets of the new, small teams.

Should we laugh or cry?

How do you interpret this statement:

We can assume it was a multy-year deal.

The Henkel executive had forged his chairman's signature. (?)

Could this have been one of the reasons why JB left Brawn for Mclaren and Mercedes going all out to sign on MS? This had been going on since September...

What will next year have in store for us? It is amazing what people in the team ranks of F1 try to pull off.

Chuck

Well, it certainly isn't the dream (media) start Haug imagined ...

I think no.

First they lose both their drivers and the #1 on their car, now it seems they never had a 130 million dollar sponsorship they thought they had all along...

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2009/12/14/merc...1m-henkel-deal/

http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2009/12/14/...rt-mercedes-gp/

If Schumi joins the Team... Do you really think they will have problems getting sponsors? I dont.

I'd like to see Schumi return to F1, it'd definately spice things up. But it hasn't happened yet.

Stolen stationary? Haven't heard that excuse before.

Speaking that they lost Barichello is really laughable. I dont think they even wanted him.
Secondly, Rubens threatened Buttons championship. This speaks everything about losing Button. People will realise he is not that great when Hamilton crash him next season.

On topic, the answer is NO.

Man, 90 million euros isn't to be sneezed at.

I think Mercedes have their found. OK, it's a big loss, but I really hope that other sponsor deal are signed and sealed with Orange, bwin or Becks.

Mercedes/Brawn are claiming the sponsor contract is valid. Henkel are disputing it. Simple.

Since mercedes bought into Brawn, it seems whenever they are in the news it is usually for the wrong reasons

I think they can sort it out.

Certainly, Henkel aint gonna pay a dime.

With Henkel? Not sure they will sort it out. If signatures were forged, Mercedes has no case.
The question remains: have they found a replacement for Henkel.

If finally they sign schumacher then replacement for henkel wont be a big deal. Friends of Schu and Merc will fork out the money.

so this was the sponsor they were all so unnecc. secretive about?

I bet it was the forgers that told them to keep it secret... and Nick Fry and co amazingly did that and naively never met or spoke with the CEO and stuff?


wow

Nope, it means Henkel filed a suit against Brawn - it can't be clearer and simpler!

It is so reported here as well

I hope so that Fry has found more sponsors than one. Actually Henkel wasn't among the possible title sponsors for the next year.

But why? Okay, it could be a subject of a legal dispute, but why should Henkel suing Mercedes? I don't think that Brawn got the money.

I don't know but if they are bringing a case against the ex-employee that committed a fraud to the benefit of Brawn that could be at their expense, they may be taking this approach based on legal advice from their attorneys. This is just a guess by the way. One should also keep in mind that Brawn are arguing that Henkel are bound to fulfill the forged contract i.e. pay up

Thanks.... it's fantastic... I hope that there are other signed contracts with other sponsors.

I find it really strange that €16million is missing. This suggest to me that there was no intention to paying Brawn the whole money as per the contract and if that is the case, it is bound to be a problem sooner or later unless both parties are in on it. I hope not but if they are, this may be the reason for the suit been filed.

This is pure speculation and I hope it is no more than a wild one.

They are defending their right NOT to enter into the contract with Brawn as opposed to pursuing Brawn for any money.