Former Ferrari technical director joins Honda team

Honda have appointed former Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn as their new team principal.

Brawn, who spent 10 years at Ferrari where he enjoyed huge success alongside Michael Schumacher, will work with current chief executive Nick Fry and will be charged with full responsibility for designing, manufacturing and engineering the team’s Formula One operation from next season.

Brawn, 52, was part of the Ferrari team which won six successive constructors’ championships from 1999 onwards and worked as Benetton’s technical director when they won the same award in 1995, following successive title wins by Schumacher.

Brawn said: “I am very excited to be joining the Honda Racing F1 Team. Honda has a proud heritage in Formula One and the opportunity to help the team to realise its potential represents a fantastic new challenge for me in the sport.

“The team has already done a great job of giving due consideration to its future and has spent a good deal of time putting in place both people and first-class engineering resources to achieve its ambitions.”

Hiroshi Oshima, Honda’s operating officer, said the appointment was made with an eye to improving on the team’s disappointing showing last season, when they scored just six drivers’ points, and building towards a competitive future.

He said: “I am pleased with the structure we have put in place for the future success of our Formula One team. A great deal of consideration has been given to the areas in which we need to develop and I am encouraged that we have a strong basis for the future.

“The appointment of Ross Brawn will bring world championship winning experience and technical vision to our team and I expect Ross and Nick Fry, who will now be able to concentrate fully on running the commercial and business aspects of our company, to work closely together to bring success to Honda in Formula One.”

Brawn, who was linked with a number of teams after taking a sabbatical from the sport, starts work at the Brackley-based outfit on November 26.