Jean Todt, the Ferrari team manager, is adamant Ferrari are first in line for talks with Ross Brawn should the technical guru decide to return to Formula One.

At the end of last season Ferrari's technical director opted to take a year-long sabbatical after ten seasons with the team. During that time Brawn, in tandem with Michael Schumacher, turned the Maranello marque from strugglers to champions.

However, Brawn is now being linked with a move for next season to the under-performing Honda team who are enduring a woeful year to date. But Todt maintains that if Brawn does decide to join another team he first has to discuss the matter with him.

"The truth is Ross decided to leave his position to gain some time for himself," Todt said. "We agreed with him that should he decide to come back and remain in this business, he would come to me first to discuss it together.

"Maybe he does not want to be in racing. Maybe he wants to be in another part of competition, but we can discuss that. Brawn has done many things for Ferrari. I am only open to the idea of discussing with Brawn his future."