Brawn to review possible Ferrari future
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-10-30 09:48
Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn, who will stand down from his position
at the end of this month, intends to have a meeting with the team next year to
evaluate a possible future role.
Brawn said he considered his departure from the team to be a "sabbatical" in
order to freshen himself up.
"In the middle of the year, we'll have a meeting to discuss how I feel about
my sabbatical and how they feel about how the team is running and if it will be
possible for me to play a part in it in the future," Brawn told reporters at the
Ferrari World event on Sunday.
"I just feel I need to have a little break to recharge my batteries and also
to give some other guys at Ferrari an opportunity to show what they can do when
they are given full responsibility," he said.
Brawn, who ruled out moving to another team, will be replaced by Mario
Almondo, with Stefano Domenicali taking on the role of sporting director. Chief
executive Jean Todt will become interim managing director.
Engine director Paolo Martinelli is also leaving to take a position with
parent company FIAT.
During their time with Ferrari the team won the constructors' title six times
and the drivers' crown on five occasions.
Their departures mark the end of an era for the team after seven-times world
champion Michael Schumacher retired from the sport following last Sunday's
Brazilian Grand Prix.
"With the departure of Michael and Ross and Todt's change of role, the second
Ferrari epoch closes," said Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo
"That epoch from 1996-2006 was revolutionary. But we have young people coming
through who are developing well and so this will be an evolution not a
revolution. The development team know how to work together and they are very
capable.
"Under the guidance of Todt, the team can look to the future with
confidence," he added.
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