Ross Brawn is set to replace Bernie Ecclestone at the helm of Formula One, Read Motorsport has been told.
The well-respected Briton was the driving force behind Michael Schumacher’s success at Benetton and Ferrari before salvaging the remains of Honda at the end of 2008 to form his own team.
That team was Brawn GP and would go on to win the Drivers’ and Constructors’ championship in 2009 with Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello.
He would stay on as team boss when his team was bought by Mercedes for 2010, even tempting Schumacher out of retirement to help him spearhead the Silver Arrows project.
While reported trust issues with Niki Lauda and Toto Wolff led to Brawn leaving F1 at the end of 2013, many saw him as the pioneer for Mercedes’ current success when the sport switched to V6 turbo hybrid engines from 2014.
Numerous times Brawn has been linked with a return to F1, mostly with Ferrari as the Italian Scuderia look to re-find their form, however, he has always denied the reports with the usual reply is he’s still ‘enjoying fishing’.
However, with Liberty Media set to complete their takeover of Formula One early next year, it is understood they want a new man at the top to replace Bernie Ecclestone and Brawn has even signed a contract to be that man.
Speculation has been swirling around his return in previous weeks and last month the 51-year-old admitted: “For sure, trying to help F1 become a better F1 would be appealing,” speaking to the Telegraph.
And last weekend in Mexico, Toto Wolff even indicated that he would support a Brawn-led sport.
“If I need to vote for the return of Ross, then I am ready to do that,” he said.
Indeed, a vote would be necessary for a deal to go through but it’s unlikely to face many objections from the FIA with President Jean Todt the man Brawn worked alongside during Ferrari’s domination in the early 2000’s.
There is no word yet on when any kind of announcement will be made, as there are likely multiple hurdles still to overcome, however, with Liberty’s Chase Carey believed to be the likely new commercial head of F1, it is thought Brawn’s role would be to lead the technical aspect of the sport.
It would also be a very popular decision among fans and would come at a key moment for F1 as it embarks on a new era of car design and technological innovation from next season.
