richard_leeds wrote:Of course one possibility is that he already has something in mind and deliberately stalled the negotiations.
I can’t see how someone who has reported left because he wanted undiluted control would work at McLaren or Ferrari unless it was to replace Whitmarsh or Domenicali. Even if those two were going to be replaced I couldn’t see Brawn being a natural replacement because those teams tend to make those appointments from within. Having said that, an external appointment might be needed to give them a shake up?
Perhaps running a mid-field team might appeal. It wouldn’t pay as much but it’d be more personal. Williams and Force India look like good destinations. They’re the right size and I can imagine Frank or Vijay wanting someone to take on the TP role. A high profile person like Brawn might help them attract talent and cash. Sauber and Lotus would also be the right sort of team but they already have their next generation TPs in place.
He might be tempted to go right back to the start and build his own team, although Brawn strikes me as someone who prefers large organisations.
Finally he might simply want to take time out and see what happens, and that might not be in F1.
I think Domenicali's days at Ferrari have run out, but who knows. As far as Ferrari hiring from within goes, I'm not sure that Brawn doesn't count, given his times there. Of course, he says he'd never go back, and perhaps we should believe him.
Whitmarsh
should be on his way, imo, but I think Dennis & Co. will show more loyalty than that. Plus, though I don't know if he can claim most of the responsibility for both Honda and Prodromou, they did both happen on his watch and it makes up for a lot.
I'm sure that Brawn enjoys a challenge, but I don't think he'd take up a lost cause. He's the sort who needs a fighting chance at a win, which is why I think a midfield team is out. And, honestly, Williams isn't even a midfield team these days, while Force India's financing is a yearly gamble at best.
I don't see him starting up with a new team - I think the only reason he went with Honda/Brawn was that he was well aware of the potential.
I can see him as the Norbert Haug of Honda. Even if the challenge isn't the same as being a team principal, it's not a cake walk and the pay is probably better.
So I'd place the best odds on Honda and lower but above even odds on both McLaren and Ferrari.