Seeking that elusive alchemy to make the perfect Formula: Ross Brawn expands his F1 development team

Finding the right alchemy which highlights and rewards drivers' skill, but also retains a strong flavour of innovation and technology is one of the most difficult tasks facing F1 in the future.

THe recent Spanish Grand Prix stirred the emotions as two great champions pushed to the limits on track, with the hidden variables of the hybrid engines and aerodynamics seemingly more or less balanced out between the Mercedes and Ferrari cars.

If you look back at the "Golden Era" of F1 racing, the 1960s, '70s and '80s, the emphasis was certainly more on the drivers' side, but since the advent of complex aerodynamics in the 2000s and more recently the hybrid turbo engines, it has been very hard for fans to gauge how much is the driver and how much the car. This is especially true with the hybrid engines, which have all kinds of modes which can only be used at certain times, the need for recharge laps and so on, which muddy the picture of why a driver is doing well or badly.

While ultimately the framing of the rules and their implementation will be the responsibility of the FIA, new Formula 1 Group motorsport chief Ross Brawn is using resource on the Commercial Right Holder's side, building group of engineers to work on the problem and then to collaborate with the FIA on defining the next gen Formula 1.

Pat Symonds (photo above) is already in place and working alongside Brawn in the management's the,parry offices. They will move into new premises in Central London shortly.

Some further additions to the group will join on August 1, with extensive experience in order to facilitate those improvements.

Jason Somerville, former Head of Aerodynamics at Williams as well as an engineer at the Le Mans-winning BMW team, Toyota F1 and Lotus F1, will become the Head of Aerodynamics at Formula 1 with ex-BAR, Honda, Brawn and Williams team leader Craig Wilson joining as Head of Vehicle Performance.

Somerville and Wilson will provide technical resources, assistance and expertise to advise on how best to move the formula forward.

Nigel Kerr will be made Finance Director directing financial strategy for the division under Managing Director Brawn.

Over a 40 year career, Kerr has managed the financial operations of BAR, Honda, Brawn and Mercedes where he was Chief Strategic Officer. He also had a hand in the Brawn GP buy-out from Honda and its 2009 sale to Mercedes.

This new group will work closely with the Formula 1 Technical Department to improve the entertainment value, sustainability and competition within F1.

“I am delighted to welcome three extremely experienced figures who have established themselves as experts within Formula 1 over many decades," said Brawn.

“We are building a team that enables stronger links to be forged between Formula 1’s management and the sport's various stakeholders, ensuring that regulations are implemented with the involvement of all parties.”