Ross Brawn, born on November 23, 1954, in Ashton-under-Lyne, England, stands as a distinguished British engineer and sports executive, serving as the Formula 1 World Championship’s Managing Director of Motorsports and technical director from 2017 to 2022.
His illustrious Formula 1 career is marked by tenure at Benetton and Ferrari, securing 14 drivers’ and constructors’ titles as technical director. His name is synonymous with Michael Schumacher‘s victories at both teams from 1992 to 2006. In November 2007, Brawn ascended to the role of director at Honda Racing F1 Team.
Following the Japanese team’s economic withdrawal on March 5, 2009, and after extensive negotiations, he played a pivotal role in the acquisition and renaming of the team to Brawn GP1, which clinched both drivers’ (with Jenson Button) and constructors’ championships in 2009. The team transitioned to Mercedes Grand Prix post-acquisition by Mercedes-Benz, with Brawn remaining as director from 2010 to 2013.
Ross Brawn: F1’s Game-Changer Retires at 68
After retiring at the close of the 2013 season, he made a notable return in 2017 following Formula 1’s acquisition by the American group Liberty Media, assuming the position of Managing Director, Motor Sports and technical director of F1. In this capacity, he notably introduced sprint races, typically held on Saturdays during three Grand Prix. Concluding the 2022 season, he decided to retire from his role.
During his six-season tenure, Ross Brawn oversaw significant technical modifications, including the reintroduction of ground effect aerodynamics in 2022. He was also the architect behind the Saturday sprint races, implemented thus far in three Grand Prix. In late November 2022, at 68, he announced his decision to step down: “It’s the right time for me to retire. The bulk of the work is done, and we’re now in a consolidation phase. A new car is coming in 2026, but that’s four years away, which is quite distant for me, so it’s better for the next group to take over. I believe I’m leaving F1 in an excellent state,” he stated.
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