Ross Brawn unaware of Ferrari veto right

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A fascinating tidbit has emerged from a new book co-written by Ross Brawn with former Williams CEO Adam Parr, and set to be released in November.

The book - Total Competition: Lessons in Strategy from Formula One - is a conversation between the two men which reveals secrets about team management and the politics of F1.

Brawn, who was the Scuderia's technical director from 1997 to 2006, disclosed that Ferrari's powerful right to veto rule changes, which had been granted to Maranello in the 1980s, was so concealed and secret that he only learned about it in 2005.

It's revelation came about when Ferrari attempted to oppose the introduction of a new rule in 2005 which banned drivers from changing tyres during a race.

"I didn’t know that we had a veto then," Brawn said.

The former engineer and strategist doubted however that Jean Todt, head of the Scuderia at the time, would have ever exploited the mighty veto right.

"We didn’t use it and I don’t think Jean would have ever used it, because we knew it was wrong."

Brawn also revealed that the rule which Ferrari opposed impacted the manufacturer's behaviour at the farcical 2005 United States GP at Indianapolis.

Because of several tyre failures during practice on the high-speed banked course, all teams running Michelin tyres retired on the warm-up lap, leaving only six Bridgestone-shod cars - and two Ferraris - to start the race.

As payback for introducing the new rule, which Ferrari saw as an attempt to undermine its dominance, the Italian outfit refused any compromise which would have allowed their Michelin rivals to race.

"We were in a position where we were feeling very aggrieved because of what had gone on with the tyre rules, feeling persecuted," said Brawn.

"So our mindset was not to have much sympathy when the perpetrators of the one-race tyre had a problem."

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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.