Ross Brawn talked the British F1 media this afternoon and says that he intends to be with the team for a long time to come.
“I know all the plans for the future of the team,” he said, “and I hope I am going to be a part of them for a very long time. I think we are entering a really exciting period. Lewis joining us a massive catalyst for us all, massive incentive, motivation, but I think I am seeing the maturity of the changes we made 12 months ago. The 2013 car has been project led by Aldo (Costa) and he has done a fantastic job and I am really exited by that. Like anyone of us in life if we are excited by what we are doing we carry on doing it. We have set ourselves some tough tasks over the winter and we are meeting them. A lot of things are behind us and we are going to gain the benefits of the initiatives and investments we have made.”
Brawn said that Mercedes wants a long-term commitment from him.
“Obviously I want to see how things go before I make a final longterm commitment. We have to have things in place. It was rather like my succession plan at Ferrari I was part of that. I have talked to Paddy. We know the situation. I am planning on being here for a very long time.”
Brawn said that it made no difference that he no longer has shares in the team.
“I made the decision to sell the teams to Mercedes because I am not an entrepreneur. I am a racer. I want to go racing. I made that decision because I believe Mercedes were the right people to have the team in the future. I think you can see that in the investment in a driver like Lewis and the facilities here. These changes are very difficult to do as a privately-financed team. I want to go racing at the very top with all the facilities and the best drivers. All that is needed. Even though Brawn GP was a good experience it was not going to have the capacity to do that in the future. It matters little to me that Toto (Wolff) is a shareholder. What matters is that Toto has the same vision.”
Brawn said that he is still in charge.
“I am the team principal. I am in charge of sporting, technical and racing matters,” he said. “There is another side of the business that I don’t want to get involved with on a day to day basis. A lot of things that Toto will be doing which are complementary to what I am doing.”
Brawn said that it was “disappointing” that the stories have got into the media because they might have the effect of disturbing the team.
“I want our giys focused to do the best job they can for the season,” he said. “There is a huge buzz and that is what we want to manitian. But these are distractions. I have to do the best to stop them being distracted.”
Brawn said that hwne he left Ferrari he felt that his motivation had started to wane, but that is not the case now.
“I don’t feel it is the time to stop,” he said.
He said that the team’s failure in 2012 was to not maintain the rate of development and to take a wrong decision about looking into the exhaust aerodynamics without having the tools needed to understand it.
He added that the big challenge in 2013 will be to get the car competitive, while at the same time getting ready for the big changes that will come in 2014. He said that Aldo Costa is in charge of the 2013 car and that Geoff Willis is leading the design team for 2014.
joeblogsf1 
“I have talked to Paddy. We know the situation.”
I’ve found Brawn mentioning he talked to “Paddy” interesting. And pray, what is the “situation”?
Ask Ross.
I wish.
The DT quotes that “If I leave, Paddy will come”. That won’t go down well in Woking…
I trust all those ‘talking about the future’ have an active and competitive place in it?
Well, that settles it. Or does it? I thought so for about ten seconds after reading Ross’s take on things. But then looking back at the answers Toto gave to Joe and his colleagues a couple of days ago, I’d say his position looks the more secure of the two.
I could be very wrong, of course, but Toto didn’t have to assert his position, or defend himself, and his defence of Brawn was less than emphatic.
Brawn can say “I’m in charge”, but it seems to be up to Toto and Lauda to confirm this, or not.
Wheres Bob Bell?? He would be a perfect candidate for Williams?
Ask not for whom Dr Bell toils…
Sorry. 🙂
(Merc F1)
He doesn’t toil for thee…
Benson’s credibility not looking great right now. More news to come you think, Joe?
I disagree. We both agree on the story that has happened. Who knows what will happen in the future.
That’s interesting, as a couple of days ago you were certainly not in agreement. Your precise words were “pigs might fly”. You have spent quite a lot of internet ink in recent weeks berating unchecked unsubstantiated rumours as detrimental to your profession and livelihood. In Brawn’s statement today he was, for a reserved gent, fairly critical of the reporting of this story. The major source of all that was one Andrew Benson of the BBC. If this does eventually turn out to be yet another over-hyped storm in a teacup, or worse, how is this any less harmful to general journalistic credibility than the intentionally misleading ‘stories’ planted by Bernie? In fact, seeing as apparently Benson used Eddie Jordan as a major source, what’s to say that this disruption hasn’t been orchestrated by Bernie anyway? Some sort of comeuppance for Brawn over Mercedes’ stick-in-the-mud negotiations for the new Concorde Agreement?
Nice to see you being so positive.
I don’t hold any stakes in this, I’m not being positive or negative, just asking (unanswered) questions. I’m mostly intrigued by the dichotomy between your attitude to Sylt and your esteem for Benson, when to many of us who merely consume journalism rather than create it the two don’t look too different. With, for example, factual errors in his Top 20 pieces, the Vettel to Ferrari story, and now this Mercedes-Williams-McLaren love triangle piece, Benson’s fact checking does seem a little slipshod. Wasn’t that what you were complaining about with regard to the online repackagers? That, and the lack of insider knowledge to be able to tell when they were being sold a pup. Right now, Mr Benson is the proud owner of a couple of juvenile canines, yet he also seems to have full F1 press accreditation.
I genuinely am interested in your take on this. There have been others on here who have questioned Andrew Benson’s work, so it isn’t just me. Indeed, one of my favourite exchanges in the last 12 months was in an earlier question on this subject. I, again, queried the reliability of Andrew Benson’s BBC articles as a source and your reply was the he was “doing a job”. Another of your readers (I’m afraid I forget whom) noted the lack of the word “good” in your phrasing. Beyond that, all you have said is that you “rate him”. I respect your experience and appreciate your interaction with the likes of us hoi polloi, it certainly adds to my motivation to renew my GP+ subscription, but this situation is fascinating. You have soundly rubbished a number of Benson’s stories this past year, yet you leap to his defence when a direct question is asked.
Of course, it probably just looks as though I have a bee in my bonnet and I apologise for bugging you, but that’s what you get when you allow a scientist to ask questions. We tend to be twitchy until we get a decent answer.
It is easy. One is a proper journalist who cares and earned his spurs. The other is not.
One must also feel a little insecure in working for the same outlet as EJ, who for all his inability to self-edit, talk clearly or indeed communicate generally, obviously has the channels…
Interestingly, in his latest revision of the Brawn riposte on the BBC site, I see that AB has removed the section of RB’s comments that criticises the journalists involved. Make of that what you will.
So all three at the top have apparently said that they are in charge.
For Lewis’s sake, I hope Ross is not forced out, but he did not do well with Schumacher this last time, although modern rules did not allow Schumacher’s previously successful methods anyway. So who can tell, would the former incarnation SCM have done better, even with no testing? Or had Ross dropped the ball?
>I am the team principal
Interesting.
I understood Ross was going to report to Toto, and that Toto would report to Niki (who as I understand it thinks he has a similar brief and role to Helmut Marko). I wonder if any of that is wrong.
Ross is the team principal but team principals are not always bosses of the company. Executives report to a board of directors. Some of them are non-executive and are there to give advice and try to point the company in the right direction. The chairman may indeed report to the boss of Daimler AG, but that does not mean that Toto is not also reporting to Dieter Zetsche as well.
Joe,
For all the talk of 2014 from Merc, Geoff Willis hardly inspires confidence of a world beater, what has happened to Bob Bell? I agree there are too many cooks but surely Bob would be the man to keep
Bob is running the technical side of the show. Geoff is a talented guy.
Geoff Willis did a lot of good when it was Honda F1, before that was a successful head of aero at Williams.
Unless I do not remember correctly, aerodynamics of Williamses at the beginning of the century were the weakest part of the package. Ferraris and McLarens were much more sophisticated in that area, albeit both with weaker engines than BMW. One would say that Bridgestone’s relationship with Maranello made all the difference.
Geoff Willis Left Williams in 2001, when they won 4 races. The aero rot set in later.
I won’t be as unkind as to name the head of aero at their lowest ebb, I don’t think it would be fair on her.
All very interesting stuff, I’m looking forward to seeing how Aldo Costa’s car goes with Lewis in it. I’m itching to see them racing now!
Its time for Ross Brawn to retire and go fishing with Schumacher, Briatore and Tad Czapski .
Interesting combination of names.
Oooh, ooh, something not being said here. Sounds exciting 🙂
Can you get fishing rods with launch control?
In all seriousness, this raises an interesting question which hadn’t really occurred to me before: both Schumacher and Briatore have had their achievements within the sport somewhat tarnished by the allegations of technical chicanery which may have contributed to Benetton’s succes in ’94. And yet Ross Brawn – who was TD of Benetton at the time – seems to have escaped with his reputation intact and appears to be held in great esteem by all in F1. Can you elaborate on this Joe?
Some go through life believing that the end justifies the means. Others with more intellect realise that this is delusional.
The latter folk are easier to like and to respect.
More speeeling mistooks in this article than I’ve seen in years on your blog. Otherwise, great.
I think you mean grate.
Just be greatfull fr the articul.
Wehn I srtat pyniag for tihs bolg pehrpas tehn tehre wlil be jsutiifctaoin for manoing aobut seplilng…
Please feel free to start paying now.
Interesting point Joe. I have contributed to some of the more reliable news-orientated blogs out there (e.g. http://www.avherald.com) that I use and a couple of the better run discussion sites. Generally in life it is a truism that you get what you pay for, this blog and GP+ being two of the few anomalies in that they are monstrously cheap for the quality you and DT provide.
Who gives a toss about spelling mistakes, anyone with half a brain knows what the odd miss-spelt word still means. Great artical as usual Joe. Been a regular visitor to your blog for around a year now and to be fair there is no more typing errors than any of the other decent F1 sites. Keep doing what your doing m8. Massive respect to you combined with a little jealousy for your job, lol.
After selling his team to Mercedes, Brawn has what? 50 million in the bank? More? Brawn has won it all, more than once. He has absolutely nothing left to prove.
My take; Brawn would be gone already if not for a contract. He may see out the season if Lauda and Wolff are kept in check. I don’t hold out much hope of regarding Lauda, he seems to know no other way to operate. That the Mercedes board would install such a malcontent makes one wonder at their sobriety.
Right now it’s 50:50 that Brawn will see out the season. Odds that Brawn will be at Mercedes this time next year? Nearing nil.
It is probably not that simple.
Even the most complex of situations can sometimes be constrained by very simple factors. In this case, Lauda’s personality and Brawn’s tolerance for it.
Can you imagine Brawn enduring the kind of manipulation and interference that Lauda exhibited at Jaguar?
Were Brawn subjected to a similar amount of second guessing, why would he stay? He has more money than he can easily spend. He has more championships than most. He could name his price at another team or simply choose to retire. Why would someone of Brawn’s caliber suffer such indignity?
I don’t believe he would, not for long. I’ve seen no reason to believe that Lauda’s personality or methods have substantially changed. This strongly suggests that Brawn’s imminent departure is fated.
Great articles Joe, I’ve been reading for a couple of weeks now. Just one thing, you really need to double check your spelling before posting!
Nobody is perfect, I think we can forgive the occasional error, Joe is human after all, and the better for it.
If you’ve only “been reading for a couple of weeks” how is it that you’re able to spot spelling mistakes, let alone understand the complexity of the content?
Sure if money was his only motivation he could have stopped after his Ferrari days.
I predict a shambles at Mercedes a la Jaguar especially with Niki Lauda’s involvement. Recent history has proven that automotive corporations trying to own and run a successful Formula 1 team does not work (BMW, Honda, Toyota) althouigh Renault did have some some success. Too many people at mercedes now seem to be reporting to somebody above them who in turn reports to somebody above them who in turn reports to somebody above them etc.. The automotive industry should concentrate on their niche which is developing and suppliying engines. Honda and BMW were successful at this and Mercedes and Renault are currently successful supplying to McLare and,Red Bull, Lotus, Williams respectively.
With all this doom and gloom being painted, am I the only one that thinks setting a Doberman in Lauda onto an underperforming team is a good thing?
So long as Dr Zetsche holds a tight leash, maybe the whirlwind of gnasher’s the rat will bear is a good thing. For a while at least.
I think people remember his memorable involvement in Jaguar Racing
Everyone except the Mercedes board it seems. As someone else said above, one wonders at their sobriety when they made a decision like that.
Was it Lauda who it was claimed had approached Benetton asking whether they’d recommend he appoint Nick Wirth as TD? Or am I misremembering? Someone at Jaguar around that period…
Leaving Mercedes-Benz aside for a moment, are there any reports about Honda and/or Volkswagen entering the sport in 2014? Are there any traces of Hyundai’s interest in taking part in F1?
Different subject but What was Herman Tilke doing meeting with Newin Chidchob in Thailand last week?
He’s building a permanent circuit in Thailand, in addition to the Bangkok street track that is planned.