Brawn admits F1 top job ’appealing’

Ross Brawn has admitted he is interested in returning to F1.

But the former Ferrari and Mercedes chief fended off speculation he could come back from retirement with a prominent role at McLaren.

Instead, he indicated that a top job overseeing the sport - perhaps with a sporting-specific role working with Liberty Media - interests him.

"That’s how I like to be involved in the sport," Brawn told the Telegraph.

"I would never go back to a team. I did everything I can in a team, but I would be repeating myself.

"For sure, trying to help F1 become a better F1 would be appealing," the 61-year-old added.

Indeed, Brawn indicated he already has ideas about how the sport should move forwards in the wake of the Liberty takeover.

"If you ask me what F1 needs, it needs a plan; a three-year and a five-year plan," he said. "My view is we haven’t got the ideal structure for creating that plan and implementing it over time."

Brawn would not specifically deny that he has already been in contact with Liberty.

"I think they’re finding their feet," he said. "They’re being very wise and taking their time. They’ve also got to build their relationship with Bernie, because he’s not used to having an owner involved in that way."

Brawn, one of the greatest engineers ever seen in F1, also sounded amused when asked about the prospect of working closely with F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

"I have no issues with Bernie," he said.

"I just got frustrated because my approach is methodical and structured and Bernie’s is chaotic and impulsive. If those two things ever came together it would be an interesting combination.

"Sometimes I find those idiosyncrasies, those approaches, amusing."