Brawn to hold Ferrari talks first

(GMM) A Ferrari spokesman has responded to reports that Honda may already have started talks with Ross Brawn about the 2008 season.

Crisis-struck Honda's team boss Nick Fry apparently wants the Briton to lead the technical effort at Brackley, after Brawn departed Ferrari for a one-year sabbatical coinciding with the retirement of Michael Schumacher last season.

Ferrari spokesman Luca Colajanni confirmed that Brawn is no longer contractually bound to the Italian team.

But, already in Bahrain for this weekend's race, he told the Guardian: "We would like to think there is a gentlemen's agreement that he will talk to us before deciding on his future plans."

Colajanni did not comment on speculation that Brawn might replace Jean Todt as Ferrari's team boss in 2008.

Some Ferrari sources, however, doubt that Brawn is serious about joining Honda, despite the 52-year-old's earlier hints that he would enjoy seeing out his career at a British-based team.

"Why on earth would Ross want to join Honda if he's got the remotest chance of returning to Ferrari?," one observer wondered.