I think you are giving Ross Brawn wayy to little credit there, marcush.
As if Brawn had zero influence in the Ferrari success years, and only was interesting to supposedly be the one that buddies FIA into 'secret' ferrari-race-staging? utter nonsense.
If all, indeed, Brawn has not shown in his career to be focused much on sponsorship deals and 'politics'. How on earth then would he be the one to pilot the Ferrari team that way? And niki lauda? Come on, he's a great champion, but that's where it ends. He's always talking into the media's ears and tells you what you want to hear, but as for actually bringing anything to the table except for media-attention - ??? I remember him on german RTL F1 TV interviews regularly, and it's always been the same boring answers and thoughts that did not add anything. I have great respect for Niki Lauda as a driver, but when he stepped away from the cockpit, that's where his qualities ended.
Lauda is a good media attention figure, and that's where he comes in play at Mercedes.
Mercedes stated clearly from the Benz board of direction that they 'demanded' success. They realised they probably thought a bit too easy 'just stepping in' by buying BrawnGP when it Championed its way trough the field in 2009. But it took Brawn years with Honda to reach that, it wasn't just a miracle thing. The revised 2009 rules [f1 car design] surely played into their hands, yes. And Mercedes must have realised that it wasn't working out they had hoped for back in 2010.
Schumacher at Mercedes was nothing but the 'brand promotion' Mercedes was looking for. They have a great driver in Rosberg, but Nico is not the brand that Mercedes desires.
Schumacher could bring that, just by his name alone - and they had the hope for him actually going for the win.
Unfortunately, Schumacher's age and motorcrash aftermath, and the fact the Mercedes 2010 car was simply the BGP002 - built for Button, not Schumacher, made it impossible for Schumacher to achieve the success of before.
Mercedes success of now is not thanks to Lauda or Wolff - it's the combination of people. Mercedes is harvesting the fruits of 'buying' themselves key figures for their desperate need to win.
Schumacher dissapointed - but Hamilton could bring the same 'interest' into the brand, but without the wear and age.
A business platform, again.
To think Brawn never was a brilliant figure is showing little respect for the man. If it's because there were other people around him that did good work, then the same goes for Adrian Newey, or Colin Chapman for that matter. Nobody can achieve anything purely on their own. That's why it's a TEAM.
Both at Benneton and at Ferrari brawn ushered in success, and one of his qualities is strategy.
RedBull even wanted Brawn for 2008 paired with Alonso, but Brawn opted for Honda instead.
Brawn worket at Williams at the very start of the williams outfit, I see zero reason to go back to that dying team.
If anything, the working atmosphere alone is no place for Ross. Williams is a place of chaos, they jump from idea to idea,
from supplier to supplier, from driver to driver, and the same goes for personnel. It's a total mess and they're not learning from their mistakes. Brawn would never go there because he'd have to reorganise so much there, it basically means it would be easier resurrecting BRAWNGP as a new team asking bernie for a 2014 or 2015 new team entry to replace the HRT grid spot - and he'd even make it work.
No, Brawn is among the F1 greats. Schumacher, Alonso, Vettel, Hamilton. Brawn, Newey, Briatore, Chapman.
And he will be great with Mclaren. A new environment, good backing, a great business platform with great promise, without corporate breath of Mercedes steaming behind him. Ross Brawn was in his element with honda in 2008 and BrawnGP 2009, just as he was in his element at ferrari - because he had freedom and as he said himself 'clear-cut' position, without other things 'stressing' his mind. He'll get the same at McLaren - and because of that - Brawn and Mclaren 2015 will bring in another couple of years of success.
Mercedes is going to lose a great strategist now Brawn is leaving. And strategy is exactly what Mclaren has been missing out the past years. It is all win-win for Mclaren if you look at it.
The question will be then: with ross leaving, what will happen with Merc? They have plenty high-ranking 'officers' aboard, and it's kinda like you can only expect good results from that. Merc is battling for 2nd in the constructors championship,
so the corporate bosses at Merc are happy. They wanted a win - they got a bunch of 'em this year. I think Brawn feels his work there is done and its gotten crowded over there. It's totally Mercedes philosophy. Not a nessecarily 'suffocating' environment - just a bit too many people around. Will merc have a loss next year when Ross is out? most definately.
Not neccesarily regarding the car itself and the team itself - 2013 laborship will effect 2014 season still - but from the start, they'll miss the 'natural' strategic benefit's of Ross.
If Ross could start in Mclaren 2014 straight away - which i'd doubt - Mclaren will benefit there immediately.
Nigel Mansell only became WDC once, too. I concider him a 'great' aswell even though not mentioned.