Brawn on Mercedes: 'They haven't dropped the ball'

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Ross Brawn may still feel that a small part of the Mercedes F1 team lives within him even though it's been seven years since he sold Brawn to the German manufacturer.

In an interview with The Guardian published on Monday, Brawn made clear however that the German manufacturer, led by Toto Wolff, had done a perfect job on its own.

"You cannot go on claiming credit indefinitely," explained Brawn.

"They’ve been generous in acknowledging I provided the structure and created the team but I said to Toto: ‘You haven’t dropped the ball.’

"They haven’t cocked it up. There are so many examples of teams with the biggest budgets not winning. Toyota had so many years in Formula 1 and didn’t win a race."

As he recounts in his new book 'Total Competition: Lessons in Strategy in Formula One', Brawn ultimately left Mercedes because of a breach of trust with the team's management pair of Wolff and Niki Lauda.

But the 61-year-old engineer also admitted that the writing of the book made him realize that it took two to tango and that he played his own part in the split with the Mercedes duo.

"The book helped me realise I was as much responsible for events as they were. It had run its course and the motivation I once had didn’t exist anymore.

"Just winning another world championship was not a reason for me to stay. But I had lots of good friends and felt sensitive towards Lewis because I had persuaded him to go to Mercedes.

"But the team was in very good shape and all the signs were that 2014 would be a winning year. So it proved."

Brawn also acknowledged that any negative feelings associated with his former associates were relegated to the past.

"There’s no problem between me and Toto now. Formula 1 is a tough business and you cross swords with many people.

"But I always wanted to compete with someone on a Sunday and have a glass of wine with them afterwards. Same with Mercedes. I may not agree with everything they do but I want us to have a decent relationship."

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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.