Ross Brawn officially returns to the world of high-level competition, but this time, the roar of Formula 1 engines gives way to the explosive world of MotoGP.
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One of the most influential engineers and leaders in F1 history has joined the board of directors of Pramac Racing as a strategic advisor to the team principal, Paolo Campinoti.
For someone whose legacy is linked to several of the greatest dynasties in modern Formula 1, this marks a new chapter as unexpected as it is fascinating.
An outstanding manager
Brawn’s arrival brings to the MotoGP paddock several decades of experience at the highest level of motorsport. And at Pramac, the goal is clear: to import some of the organizational rigor and winning culture that have defined the entire career of the Briton.
At 71 years old, Ross Brawn remains one of the most iconic architects of contemporary F1. He notably helped build the empires of Benetton Formula and then Ferrari during the golden age of the sport, playing a central role in Michael Schumacher’s world titles in the 1990s and 2000s.
In 2009, Brawn also achieved one of the greatest feats in modern motorsport history with Brawn GP, a team created in an emergency that nevertheless won both world championships in its first — and only — season. This structure later became the foundation of the future factory project of Mercedes-Benz, which sparked the historic era of dominance by the Silver Arrows.
New challenge
Even after stepping down from direct team management, Brawn stayed at the heart of F1 by serving as Managing Director Motorsport and technical director of Formula One Management between 2017 and 2022. After several years away from the paddock spotlight, he now dives back into the world of competition through a completely different discipline.
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“I am delighted to join the board of Pramac Racing in a non-executive role,” said Brawn. “Motorsport has always been about people, teamwork, and continuous improvement. I look forward to helping Paolo and the team and bringing my experience where it can be useful. Pramac has built an impressive organization with great ambition and an excellent mindset. I am happy to be part of its future.”
For Pramac Racing, recruiting a personality of this stature goes far beyond a simple media coup. Even though MotoGP differs profoundly from F1 on the technical and philosophical level, the demands of the highest level — leadership, strategy, organization, and team culture — remain universal.
F1-MotoGP synergy
Brawn’s experience in building winning teams could therefore become extremely valuable to further accelerate Pramac’s development.
Paolo Campinoti has not hidden his enthusiasm: “I am extremely proud to welcome Ross to Pramac Racing,” he said. “Beyond his immense career and successes in Formula 1, Ross is a person with whom I share a friendship and deep respect for many years. I am convinced that his vision, experience, and winner’s mentality will contribute greatly to the growth and future development of Pramac Racing.”
This arrival also illustrates the growing rapprochement between F1 and MotoGP, at a time when the two disciplines are becoming increasingly connected commercially and strategically under the leadership of promoter Liberty Media. Removed by Haas, Günther Steiner has already invested in the KTM Tech 3 team and Christian Horner was recently seen in the MotoGP paddock in Barcelona.
And even if Ross Brawn does not seem destined to return soon to a Formula 1 pit wall, his return to a competition paddock is already attracting a lot of attention in the motorsport world. Because when a man like Ross Brawn returns to the game, the entire paddock listens carefully.
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