LONDON, England - Former Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn will not make a comeback to Formula 1, the UK's Daily Telegraph reported on Saturday (Feb 1).
Brawn, involved with team management for more than 35 years, made the announcement at a fishing event in Scotland, confirming that the sabbatical he took after leaving Mercedes in December 2013 was now a permanent departure from the sport.
NO MORE F1
Brawn said: "What they didn't realise when I was invited here was they had a scoop because the world's news media was trying to find out if I was retiring or not. This is the busiest time of the year for F1 and I said I would come along and open the River Dee (salmon fishing).
"If they had put two and two together they would have realised I was definitely retiring."
The 59-year-old is widely credited as a key figure behind Michael Schumacher's seven F1 titles with Benetton and Ferrari and also found success with his self-titled team in 2009 when Jenson Button won the championship.
He had been linked with roles at returning engine manufacturer Honda, the International Automobile Federation, Williams and McLaren, the last being a potential chance to team up with Ron Dennis after he returned to the team.
"I'm retiring - it's not tongue in cheek," Brawn asserted. "I'm going to take a year to enjoy the fishing and then see what life brings.
"I'm looking forward to it but I've got no other plans.
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2014 F1 season – fresh reports every day.
Brawn, involved with team management for more than 35 years, made the announcement at a fishing event in Scotland, confirming that the sabbatical he took after leaving Mercedes in December 2013 was now a permanent departure from the sport.
NO MORE F1
Brawn said: "What they didn't realise when I was invited here was they had a scoop because the world's news media was trying to find out if I was retiring or not. This is the busiest time of the year for F1 and I said I would come along and open the River Dee (salmon fishing).
"If they had put two and two together they would have realised I was definitely retiring."
The 59-year-old is widely credited as a key figure behind Michael Schumacher's seven F1 titles with Benetton and Ferrari and also found success with his self-titled team in 2009 when Jenson Button won the championship.
He had been linked with roles at returning engine manufacturer Honda, the International Automobile Federation, Williams and McLaren, the last being a potential chance to team up with Ron Dennis after he returned to the team.
"I'm retiring - it's not tongue in cheek," Brawn asserted. "I'm going to take a year to enjoy the fishing and then see what life brings.
"I'm looking forward to it but I've got no other plans.
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2014 F1 season – fresh reports every day.