The Daily Telegraph is claiming that Honda is on the verge of announcing Ross Brawn as its new Team Principal, with current team boss Nick Fry continuing as the Japanese outfit's Chief Executive.

Earlier this year the Brackley team claimed to be in talks with the Englishman - who stepped down as Technical Director with Ferrari at the end of 2006 - but the Maranello outfit, and indeed Brawn himself, were quick to scotch the story, claiming that should he return to F1 the Italian team would have first call on his services.

As Pitpass revealed yesterday, the team is in the midst of a major recruitment drive, rumoured by one source to be seeking to increase its staffing levels by as much as 20 - 25 per cent.

Though Brawn has been linked with Honda for some time - despite the denials - there was widespread speculation that the Englishman would never merely join the team under Fry but would instead want to take total control.

It is claimed that in competition with Red Bull and Toyota, Honda finally agreed a deal with Brawn, who travelled to Tokyo with Fry earlier this month, the deal being signed off last week.

The Brackley outfit has just endured its worst ever season, with things having got off to a shaky start with the announcement of the 'Myearthdream' policy and livery, a move that many still believe a cynical ploy aimed at covering up the fact the team was unable to attract worthwhile sponsorship. Then there is the RA107, which Jenson Button has invariably described as a "pile of shit" and "a dog".

According to Pitpass sources, morale at Brackley has sunk lower and lower this season, and many believe that such a move was the only way of saving the team from sinking further into the mire.

With his proven knowledge of how to build a winning F1 team, as opposed to courting celebrities and acting like a dictator, leading to many good people leaving the Brackley team, Brawn could well be Honda's salvation.