Mercedes AMG have officially announced their Team Principal and founder Ross Brawn will depart from the team on December 31 this year.
It was speculated straight after the Silver Arrows poached McLaren technical director Paddy Lowe there was no role for Brawn in the team, in terms of being the leader.
Despite attempts from Mercedes’ non-executive chairman Niki Lauda to hold on to Brawn in a senior adviser-type role, the 59-year-old has opted to quit the team completely.
In a statement released by Mercedes, Brawn said “The most important consideration in my decision to step down from the role as Team Principal was to ensure that the timing was right for the team in order to ensure its future success.”
He also went on to confirm Mercedes, instead of employing the traditional ‘team principal’, will split the technical and managerial roles between Lowe and Toto Wolff.
“The succession planning process that we have implemented during this year means we are now ready to conduct the transition from my current responsibilities to a new leadership team composed of Toto and Paddy.”
Brawn had formed the Mercedes AMG team from his one-off championship winning Brawn GP squad from 2009.
From 2010 to 2011, the seven times world champion Michael Schumacher was behind the wheel of the car before in 2012 Lewis Hamilton was plucked from McLaren to drive for Brawn.
Under the Mercedes name, Brawn has been instrumental in four grand prix victories, three of them in the hands of Nico Rosberg. Hamilton also stormed to victory at this year’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
Since changing over to Mercedes, the team have achieved their championship best result by finishing second in the constructor’s championship this year, crucially beating Ferrari.
“2014 will mark the beginning of a new era in the sport. We therefore felt this was the right time to simultaneously begin a new era of team management to ensure that the organisation is in the strongest possible competitive position for the years to come,” Brawn went on to add.
It is currently unknown what his plans are for the future in terms of Formula One, with there already being links made to a role in the FIA (F1’s governing body) or with engine developer Honda, who will make a return to the sport in 2015.
For now it is said the Briton will enjoy a few months away from the sport with a spot of fishing.
Mat Coch
Roar Guru
Nick Fry would not be considered a loss. Some would argue quite the opposite, in fact. Toto Wolff sits in the position Norbert Haug did, but is powerless. Paddy Lowe will be the team principal while Niki Lauda... As far as I know there are many in the team who aren't sure themselves exactly what he does.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Thanks Bayden. It was interesting seeing him in conversation with Domenicali there, but would it be better for Brawn to go to Ferrari who are reasonably well off, or go to somewhere like Williams where he could resurrect them. A role in the FIA isn't off the cards either maybe. We'll just have to see next year.
Mark Young
Roar Guru
Oooo, I hadn't even thought of that, yes how will Lewis feel!
Bayden Westerweller
Roar Guru
Nice piece Jawad, certainly sad to see the Big Bear as he is affectionately known, leave Merc before his vision for greatness came to fruition. He still managed to bring back Schuey which was a blast and his legacy with Brawn GP paved the way for Mercedes to return, so he has achieved a lot. Hope to see him return to the paddock, even if he takes another year off as he did after Ferrari, who knows, from Domenicali's words at Brazil, he could end up back there sooner or later?
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Yeah we started to get hints that Brawn would be the next one to go, after Norbert Haug last year and then Nick Fry earlier this year. I wonder how Lewis feels in all this, remembering that it was Brawn who ultimately persuaded him over to Mercedes. And also let's see whether having effectively two 'team principals' will fare next year.
Mat Coch
Roar Guru
Wolff is there but can be ignored. If Mercedes could they'd have sacked him a while ago.
Mat Coch
Roar Guru
Williams will never return to the top unless there is a fundamental change in Formula One, the sport has simply moved on too far in recent years. For any team to reach the top is a 5-year deal, if they have the money. In year one they recruit the brightest and best, who then spend 12 months tending to their garden. In year two the new staff begin restructuring. In year three they really begin working together. It's then a couple of years to learn how to work as a team and get the most out of things. Look at Red Bull. Newey came over in 2006 but it wasn't until 2009 that it won its first race. And the team was halfway competitive at the time. Williams is not competitive, and new regulations in 2014 aren't going to do a great deal to change that. At best it's looking at Force India and Sauber as rivals.
Mark Young
Roar Guru
A large part of me wants him to sweep into Williams and return to their glory days!
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Can't see it being more than a sabbatical than a retirement. Too many brains to go too far away! ;)
Mark Young
Roar Guru
Very well written Jawad! Great stuff. With Hindsight, it is clear that loading Mercedes with Brawn, then Lauda, then Wolf and then Paddy Lowe!!! was clearly never going to work and someone was going to drop out. Very surprised that it is Brawn though, The man who orchestrated the First rise of Schumi at Benneton, the second rise at Ferrari and then the shift of Honda/Brawn/Mercedes (should we just call them Brackley!) from the rear of the Grid to championship and race winners. Fascinated to know where he ends up, surely he is too young to retire