Brawn sees slow and steady changes as best approach for F1

Formula 1 sporting manager Ross Brawn says gradual change is the best way forward for the sport given the difficulties in achieving consensus among the teams on F1's regulation overhaul.

Liberty Media, through Brawn's guidance, has set its sights on moving Grand Prix racing into a new era from 2021, marked by closer racing, a more level playing field and better economics.

But putting the package together while attempting to manage the interests of ten different teams, the commercial rights holder and a governing body has been a difficult and challenging process, and one that remains a work in progress.

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But for Brawn, moving forward is about small steps rather than adopting a rushed, radical revolution.

"I am satisfied with the direction. I am not satisfied with the pace," Brawn told Motorsport.com.

"It’s been a big challenge to move things on, but I know what's going on and I can see what's happening and I know that if we hadn’t started this process, it certainly wouldn’t have got to where we’ve got to today.

"Of course, I'm impatient for more to happen. But it is a necessity to keep the teams involved, to find solutions with them, to work with the FIA and find solutions. So I think it's going in the right direction.

"I think it is the first time Formula 1 has taken this approach and is looking at how we improve the sport in many areas.

"We’re only two years into this journey, but I am optimistic that we're going to see in the next few years the benefits of the work we are doing."

For all the complexities and struggles linked to Brawn's balancing act with the teams in the past two years, the former Benetton and Ferrari engineer is enjoying his job of designing the future of Formula 1.

"It’s a different dynamic, this job," he said.

"In a team, you have the highs and lows of the races and if you’re fortunate enough to win a race it’s a massive thrill.

"But if you lose a race it can be pretty [sad]. So this is not quite the same, but we have our own race.

"Our own race is to improve the cars, and improve the sport, so it's a more gradual pace. But yes, I'm enjoying it, and I'm enjoying being part of this team and enjoying the change in Formula 1 that's happening now.

"I think I've got a good few years to get where we want to go. I can see the direction’s good, I can see things happening.

"As I said, I’d like them to happen more quickly but that's not always possible. It's going in a much better direction than it was when I arrived."

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