Mercedes: Toto Wolff wants Ross Brawn’s return
Toto Wolff, the executive director of the Mercedes F1 team, would like former team engineer Ross Brawn to make his return to the team. The Brit had packed his bags at the end of last year to notably make way for Paddy Lowe as technical director.
As more and more rumors surround a possible return of Ross Brawn to Formula 1, with Honda, Ferrari, or Haas Racing, Toto Wolff attempts to calm things by stating he is still in contact with the Briton. Although he occasionally seeks advice from him, the executive chairman of Mercedes F1 wishes for more: « When there is a tense situation during a race weekend, I try to imagine how Ross would have reacted. When necessary, I give him a quick call. But I find that we miss his calmness and experience during the tense moments of the race or championship. »
Wolff acknowledges that Brawn’s involvement and intelligence allowed Mercedes to shine this year: « What Ross achieved in 2012 made us better. He started recruiting and adding qualified people in key areas. He has a considerable share in the success we are experiencing this year. It’s really a shame that he is no longer with us currently. »
The two men remain in close contact, and it is not ruled out that Brawn might come to lend a hand to his former team during the season: “I speak with Ross regularly, and we will try to bring him to an upcoming race to have a look at the team,” adds Wolff before continuing: “He was very important in building the foundations and setting up the structures, and we would like him to be part of the team to see how it goes this year. He might come; he promised me.”
Here is a half-spoken announcement that might once and for all settle the speculations surrounding the British engineer that everyone wants to hire.
