One of Formula 1’s most successful figures, Ross Brawn, is a surprise new addition to the board of directors for the Pramac MotoGP team.

Brawn was a key part of Benetton and Ferrari’s title-winning machines with Michael Schumacher in the 1990s and early 2000s, before leading his own Brawn GP team to a fairytale F1 title victory in 2009, as well as steering the early years of the Mercedes works team it morphed into.

Having retired from F1 competition, Brawn served as F1 managing director on behalf of new owner Liberty Media (which now also owns MotoGP) from 2017.

He exited that role at the end of 2022 and now has made a surprise motorsport reappearance in MotoGP, joining the board of directors of Yamaha satellite outfit Pramac.

Brawn will serve as “strategic advisor” to Pramac team principal and friend Paolo Campinoti.

Brawn said he was “delighted to join” Pramac: “Motorsport has always been about people, teamwork and continuous improvement, and I look forward to supporting Paolo and the team and contributing where my experience may be useful.

“Pramac has built an impressive organisation with a strong spirit and ambition, and I‘m excited to be part of its future.”

Campinoti said of Brawn: “Beyond his extraordinary career and achievements in Formula 1, Ross is someone with whom I have shared a friendship and a relationship of great respect for many years.

“I believe that his vision, knowledge and winning mentality will make a valuable contribution to the continued growth and development of Pramac.”