Brawn year out confirmed.

As has been expected for some time, Ross Brawn has decided that 2006 will be his last season in Formula One for a while, with Ferrari confirming that he will take time out in 2007.

The Scuderia insists that its technical director, the man behind many a tactical success for the Prancing Horse over the Schumacher years, is to devote the next few months to his family, bringing about a reshuffle in the Italian giant's management structure that also sees engine guru Paolo Martinelli leaving the team to take on another role within the FIAT group.

Jean Todt, having earlier been promoted to CEO of Ferrari SpA, will also take on, on an interim basis, the role of managing director of the Gestione Sportiva, the company's sporting arm, with Stefano Domenicali becoming the new sporting director and Mario Almondo replacing Brawn as technical director. The engineering structure will be split in two, with the chassis department headed up by Aldo Costa, and Gilles Simon taking over from Martinelli on the engine side. Both will report to Almondo.

"Ferrari offers its most heartfelt thanks to Ross Brawn and Paolo Martinelli for their immense contribution in the drafting of an extraordinary chapter in the history of the Scuderia and motor sport, which has produced a tally of eleven world titles and around ninety wins in F1 grands prix," Ferrari said in a statement confirming the pair's departure, "After years of hard and demanding work, to them go best wishes for a satisfying future."