Upon leaving Formula One, Brawn insisted he would not discuss future positions
until this summer, saying he wanted “to clear my mind, take a rest, and then
decide if I want to return to F1”. But any potential vacancy at McLaren
could persuade him to return from his sabbatical, as he has also been linked
to a role with Honda, who will return to the sport as McLaren’s engine
supplier in 2015.
At the end of last year, Dennis admitted he had spoken to Brawn about the
future.
“I did have a conversation with him but we were shooting together”, Dennis
told BBC Sport. “We were having a chat and we’re mature motor racing people
so of course you’re going to talk about life.
“But going beyond that, as you would expect, it’s normal stuff. People probe
around, the possible, the impossible. My understanding is he intends to take
a year off. That’s my understanding of his intention.”
McLaren declined to comment on the speculation.
Dennis has been tasked with undertaking “a thorough and objective of each of
[McLaren’s] businesses with the intention of optimising every aspect of our
existing operations”. He will address their off-track and on-track
operations.
It appears next month is when change and potential new appointments can be
expected at McLaren as Dennis added that is when he will “articulate a new
Group strategy and implement the organisational structure best suited to
achieving it”.
McLaren had one of the worst years in their history in 2013, with fourth place
for Jenson Button at the final race in Interlagos, Brazil, their best finish
all season. Mexican Sergio Perez was also dropped after just one year with
the team, and has been replaced by 21-year-old Kevin Magnussen.
The team have not won the drivers’ championship since 2008, with Lewis
Hamilton, and have not won the constructors’ title since 1999, when Mika
Hakkinen and David Coulthard were the team’s drivers.