DECEMBER 16, 2013

McLaren supremo Dennis admits Brawn talks

McLaren supremo Ron Dennis has admitted he has held talks with Ross Brawn.

Brawn has stepped down as Mercedes' team boss, insisting he is taking a sabbatical and refusing to even think about his future until "at least next summer".

But the 58-year-old Briton has already been strongly linked with Honda, whose works F1 project he headed at Brackley until the Japanese carmaker pulled out of F1 in 2008.

Honda is now returning to the sport as a supplier of engines to McLaren from 2015.

So when asked if he has talked with Brawn, McLaren chairman Dennis told the BBC: "We were having a chat and we're mature motor racing people so of course you're going to talk about life.

"But going beyond that, as you would expect, it's normal stuff. People probe around, the possible, the impossible.

"My understanding is he intends to take a year off," added Dennis. "That's my understanding of his intention."

Brawn, on the other hand, is refusing to comment.

"It wouldn't be fair or appropriate to say if any parties have invited me for discussions," he said.

"I am starting my fishing trips early next year and only time will tell if formula one and me ever get together again."

(GMM)