Formula 1’s managing director of commercial operations Sean Bratches will step down from his role at the end of the month, the championship has confirmed.
Bratches took up the role three years ago when incoming commercial rights holders Liberty Media appointed him as part of a three-man team to run the sport, alongside CEO Chase Carey and motorsport director Ross Brawn.F1 said Bratches “has decided to return to the United States to be closer to his family and begin his next chapter.” He will remain involved with the sport in an advisory role.
The championship credited Bratches with adding two new event in the Netherlands and Vietnam to the calendar, extending the contracts of other races, bringing new sponsors to the championship, and introducing its ESports championship and Netflix series Drive to Survive.
“I want to personally thank the team at F1 for their extraordinary efforts and dedication, they are the best of the best and I am confident they will continue to serve fans and deliver on the strategy we have set in the years ahead,” said Bratches.
“I am proud that I leave Formula 1 in a better position than when I joined in 2017 and I know that the foundation we have put in place as a team will continue to serve our fans around the world and reach new audiences.”
Carey said Bratches “transformed the commercial side of Formula 1 and a testament to his work is shown in our momentum and growth as a business.
“I am pleased Sean will continue to be an advisor for us from his home in the US, he will always be part of the Formula 1 family and I look forward to his ongoing advice and counsel. I wish him all the best in his new endeavours.”
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Only Facts!
20th January 2020, 13:27
With Mr Carey also stepping down next year, Liberty Media will have two places to fill.
I assume they will use a model similar to McLaren’s: one hands-on executive position (as Seidl) and one commercial position (as Zak Brown).
Ross Brawn could easily fill the executive position, as he’s actually doing today, and Zak Brown could be tempted to accept the challenge he turned down three years ago.
Toto Wolff a natural candidate as well.
Croft
20th January 2020, 14:16
F will veto that
Jon Bee
20th January 2020, 15:00
Bratches wants to spend more time with his family! Unlike the hundreds of F1 team members who’ll be spending much less time at home since LM took over the sport. Bearing in mind that Bratches, along with the other directors of FOM get to travel around in 1st Class or private jets, his decision will probably go down like a lead balloon with those who spend their time in cattle class.
Phylyp (@phylyp)
20th January 2020, 15:30
Don’t read too much into that statement. That’s just generic C-suite talk for either “I quit” or “He was asked to quit”.
But yes, the irony you point out there is humourous indeed.
Nulla Pax (@nullapax)
21st January 2020, 19:52
Goodbye Bratches.
I have no idea what you were supposed to do or be but I’m sure you were worth every penny.
Goodbye ……
JJ
22nd January 2020, 16:26
…and if the ex-ESPN man actually watches the sport at all, I guarantee he’ll be doing it on F1TV. Not that he does watch it. Had he been watching the past two years, he would’ve seen the lousy job ESPN is doing with it. Or rather, not doing. Or maybe he was aware and that’s why he’s out. Who cares, ESPN sucks balls.