One of Formula 1’s most recognisable faces and arguably one of its greatest legends has confirmed that he will be “leaving F1”, despite some very interesting rumours having surfaced in the last 24 hours.
Ross Brawn is without a doubt someone who will go down in the sport’s folklore, given not only how long he’s been part of the paddock but also just how much success he’s enjoyed.
Brawn played an instrumental role in all seven of Michael Schumacher’s World Championships, with the two having formed one of the most successful partnerships in the history of F1.
He is without a doubt an incredibly respected person, one who will leave a huge hole in the sport.
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As well as having played key roles at Benetton and Ferrari, Brawn famously bought out the Honda F1 Team and renamed it as Brawn GP, the side that Jenson Button claimed the 2009 World Championship with.
Following their success, Brawn sold the team to Mercedes, whom he then departed in 2013 before returning to the sport in 2017.
Since 2017, Brawn has been the sport’s managing director under Liberty Media, who ousted Bernie Ecclestone.
It was rumoured prior to the season finale in Abu Dhabi that Brawn would be finally retiring from F1, something which was questioned in the last 24 hours.
With Mattia Binotto having been announced as leaving Ferrari, a rumour that has since been declared as fake, suggested that Ferrari were considering a shock move to sign Brawn as their new team principal.
This is most certainly fake news, though, with the 68-year-old having written on the F1 website that he is retiring.
“I’ve loved almost every minute of my 46-year career and I’ve been fortunate to have worked with many great teams, great drivers and great people. I wouldn’t have changed a thing,” he wrote on the Formula 1 website.
“I will now watch F1 from my sofa, cheering and cursing as an F1 fan, pleased that the sport is in a fantastic place and has such a fantastic future.”
Brawn wants to depart the sport so that somebody else can take his role before the next big regulation change, which is, of course, taking place in 2026.
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The former Ferrari technical director believes it’s the “right time” to finally call it a day, but that he’s “leaving F1 in a great place”.
“Now is the right time for me to retire. We have done the bulk of the work, and we are in a consolidation period now,” he said.
“There’s a new car coming in 2026, but that’s four years away, quite distant for me, so it’s better the next group of people take on that mantle. I believe I’m leaving F1 in a great place.”