With Liberty Media revealing its acquisition of Formula 1 has been completed, it’s now been announced that Ross Brawn is back in the sport in a senior role.
The former F1 technical director and team boss has been named as managing director, motor sports, while ex-ESPN chief Sean Bratches has been made managing director, commercial operations.
Brawn has been consulting with Liberty over the last few months and is now making a full-time return to F1, in a key role within Liberty’s structure.
The news came thick and fast on Monday as Bernie Ecclestone announced he had been replaced as F1 CEO by Chase Carey, bringing to an end his four-decade long stint in charge.
Liberty then confirmed its takeover of F1 has been completed, while also announcing Carey as its new CEO (alongside his chairman role) and Ecclestone moving to a chairman emeritus (he’ll basically be there to give them advice).
Now, it’s been announced that ex-technical chief and team boss Brawn, who led Benetton, Ferrari and his own team – Brawn GP – to world titles, has been made managing director, motor sports.
It brings Brawn back to F1 after a stint away, handling the sporting and technical side, while Bratches joins to oversee the commercial aspect of the series.
These are major changes to F1, which will hopefully take it in the right direction. It’s a massive shift in power as Ecclestone departs, after 40 years at the helm.
Interesting times are ahead for F1 with a new owner, new people in charge and new cars for 2017. It could be just what F1 needs.
It’ll be interesting to see how it plays out. Let’s wait and see, eh?