29 Facts About Ross Brawn

1.

Ross James Brawn was born on 23 November 1954 and is a British Formula One managing director, motor sports and technical director.

2.

Ross Brawn is a former motorsport engineer and Formula One team principal, and has worked for a number of Formula One teams.

3.

Ross Brawn took a sabbatical in 2007 and returned to F1 for the 2008 season as team principal of Honda.

4.

Ross Brawn acquired the Honda team in early 2009 to form the Brawn GP team, which won the Formula One Constructors' and Drivers' Championships in that year.

5.

Ross Brawn became interested in engineering during his early years, often visiting Belle Vue Stadium to watch various forms of motor racing.

6.

Ross Brawn moved south aged 11 as his father took a job near Reading, Berkshire and he subsequently attended Reading School in the town.

7.

Ross Brawn went on to start an HNC in Mechanical Engineering, still funded by Harwell.

8.

In 2006 Ross Brawn received an honorary degree of Doctor of Engineering from Brunel University for his services to motorsport.

9.

On 18 November 2011, Ross Brawn received a second honorary doctorate from Heriot-Watt University.

10.

Ross Brawn was hired by Sir Frank Williams in 1978 as a machinist for the newly formed Williams team.

11.

Ross Brawn joined the Haas Lola team in 1985 and was part of Neil Oatley's design team at FORCE that produced both the Lola THL1 and THL2 cars used by the team.

12.

Later in 1989 Ross Brawn moved to the Jaguar Sportscar racing division, and was lead designer on the Jaguar XJR-14 which won the 1991 World Sportscar Championship.

13.

Later in 1991 Ross Brawn returned to F1 as technical director of the Benetton team, helping it win consecutive World Drivers' Championships in 1994 and 1995 with Michael Schumacher, and to take the World Constructors' Championship in 1995.

14.

Ross Brawn was credited by much of the specialist press with being an important part of these championships, particularly in terms of devising race strategy.

15.

Ross Brawn followed Schumacher to the Ferrari F1 team in late 1996, at the end of Schumacher's first year with the team.

16.

The Ross Brawn-guided Scuderia powered Schumacher to five consecutive drivers' titles, from 2000 to 2004.

17.

On 26 October 2006 Ferrari announced that Ross Brawn was to leave the team.

18.

Towards the end of 2007 it was reported that Ross Brawn was to join the big-spending Red Bull outfit as part of a package intended to attract double world champion Fernando Alonso, but it was announced on 12 November 2007 that Ross Brawn was to become the new team principal of Honda F1.

19.

Ross Brawn started working with the British-based team on 26 November 2007.

20.

Ross Brawn GP chose to source their engines for the 2009 season from Mercedes-Benz.

21.

The Ross Brawn team was given a financial boost on the eve of the Australian GP when Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson announced he was going to become a team sponsor.

22.

Ross Brawn GP won the 2009 Formula One World Constructors' Championship and one of its drivers, Jenson Button, won the World Drivers' Championship at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

23.

Ross Brawn was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2010 New Year Honours for services to motorsport.

24.

Ross Brawn GP was bought out by Mercedes-Benz in November 2009.

25.

Ross Brawn spoke to both drivers over team radio asking them to hold position for fear of high degrading Pirelli tyres and a lack of fuel on board both cars.

26.

On 29 October, the BBC reported that Ross Brawn would leave Mercedes at the end of the 2013 season, following disagreement about his role in the team and on 28 November it was reported that he would leave the team at the end of the year.

27.

On 1 February 2014, Ross Brawn announced his retirement from Formula One, ending speculation of a possible position at the Woking-based McLaren team.

28.

The FIA announced in October 2014 that Ross Brawn would be a member of a 10-strong panel to investigate Jules Bianchi's crash at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix and that the panel would report to the World Motor Sport Council in December.

29.

On 23 January 2017 it was announced that Ross Brawn was appointed to the newly created role of managing director, Motor Sports and technical director for the Formula One Group.