Sir Richard Branson has said that his Virgin Group is likely to drop sponsorship of Brawn GP after the current season.

Though both parties planned for the deal to be long-term, Branson believes that Brawn's astonishing start to the season, which sees Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello first and second in the championship standings, will price it out of Virgin's reach.

"Virgin has most likely got the mileage we needed," said Branson, who will keep his association with the team for the rest of the year. "Their value has gone from next to nothing to UK£50 million a year. We're delighted for them, and we'll have had a fantastic year with them."

The entrepreneur is considering other options to remain within Formula One, admitting he, "may have to look somewhere else with a smaller team."