Brawn 'personally offended' by Ferrari criticism

Ross Brawn says he is "personally offended" by suggestions from upset Formula 1 teams that he is "dumbing down" the sport. As F1's managing director of motorsport, Brawn is key in the proposed changes to engine regulations which have upset Ferrari and led to them threatening to quit the sport.

Scuderia CEO Sergio Marchionne has said previously that Liberty Media are "diluting" the DNA of F1 as they look to introduce cheaper, more uniform engines as well as introduce budget caps for teams.

Marcionne also said Liberty's plans showed they "knew nothing" about the technical side of F1.

Brawn has had a hand in eight constructors' titles and eight drivers' titles across roles at Benetton, Ferrari and Brawn GP, while he also played a role in launching Mercedes into the dominant force they are today.

And the engineering veteran says criticism from the likes of Marchionne stings.

"It's critical that we have a vision of where we see Formula One," he told Radio Sport.

"I find it very frustrating when people accuse us of spoiling the DNA of this, that or the other. F1 has a long history of incredible competition, and it's the pinnacle of motorsport and why would we choose to damage that?

"I find it personally offensive when people accuse me of dumbing down the sport because we know if we did that we'd spoil the sport at its core, and we'd spoil the commercial basis of the sport as well.

"The teams at the top are probably spending two or three times what they were spending five or six years ago, and yet you wouldn't say five or six years ago that the sport was dumb. So it's just a question of degree.

"We have to help the teams at the top recognise and realise that to have a sport for the future we've got to rebase the commercial revenues for the teams, we've got to rebase the amount of scope that the teams are allowed to explore technically in order to give a more exciting competition."