Brawn, the mastermind of Michael Schumacher’s titles with Benetton and
Ferrari, as well as Jenson Button’s championship triumph with Brawn GP in
2009, left Mercedes at the end of last season for a sabbatical to spend more
time fishing.
Just a few days ago as he was inducted into Motor Sport magazine’s hall of
fame, Brawn said he would “never say never” to a return to the paddock, but
away from the glare of Formula One, which has been in Jerez for pre-season
testing this week, he confirmed his sabbatical would be permanent.
“I’m retiring – it’s not tongue in cheek,” Brawn said.
“I’m going to take a year to enjoy the fishing and then see what life brings.
I’m looking forward to it but I’ve got no other plans.
“It’s a fantastic honour to do the ceremonial opening of the River Dee. It’s a
river I’ve never had a chance to fish before because it is predominantly
known as a spring river and in the spring I’m normally trying to sort out a
Formula One car in Spain.
“So February, March and April are never good months for me to go fishing – but
this year is different having stopped.”
Since leaving Mercedes at the end of the 2013 season, Brawn was first linked
with a move to Honda, who will return to Formula One as an engine supplier
in 2015, and then with McLaren after Martin Whitmarsh was ousted as team
principal.
Dennis has created the role of CEO of McLaren Racing, for which Brawn appeared
to be a perfect fit, after Eric Boullier was appointed as the team’s Racing
Director. But this morning’s announcement should put an end to the feverish
speculation surrounding the 59-year-old’s future.
Brawn, who has won 16 titles in Formula One, eight drivers’ and eight
constructors’, has been involved in motorsport since the 1970s, when he
joined Williams as a mechanic. He became technical director of Benetton in
the early 1990s, where he won a reputation as a master strategist on his way
to winning the title with Schumacher in 1994 and 1995. He went on to win six
consecutive titles with Ferrari, before winning with his own team, Brawn GP,
after Honda pulled out of the sport at the end of 2008.