Brawn: Shock of Marchionne's death has impacted Ferrari

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F1 sporting manager Ross Brawn is convinced the untimely passing last summer of former Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne has had a "major impact" on the Scuderia.

Brawn, who was the Italian outfit's technical director during its golden Schumacher years, believes Ferrari's momentum suffered a "totally understandable" disruption in the aftermath of Marchionne's sudden passing, which led to the team's recent downturn in performance.

An emblematic figure among the automotive industry, Marchionne was credited with reviving Fiat and Chrysler, but also instilling stability in recent years at the House of Maranello following several fundamental changes in its management and engineering departments.

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"Compared to last year, even Ferrari’s reliability has improved. So where’s the problem?," said Brawn in his post-Japanese Grand Prix summary.

"There is no doubt the shock of the sudden death of its leader, Sergio Marchionne, who had been such a strong reference in the team, will have a major impact, and that is totally understandable.

"Having experienced many crises myself during my time with Ferrari, what I know is that this is the time to come together, stay united and look ahead, without resorting to recrimination and playing the blame game."

Brawn's view echoes the reports of the Italian media, with the Corriere della Sera calling Marchionne "the custodian of Ferrari's internal balance", while also hinting at an internal power struggle brewing between different factions.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.