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Mercedes prepares for gradual shift of power to Lowe

Ross Brawn will gradually hand over his responsibilities to Paddy Lowe © Sutton Images

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Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn says the handover of his responsibilities to executive director (technical) Paddy Lowe will be a gradual process that takes well over a year.

Brawn currently sits on top of a complex and talented technical department at Mercedes, with Lowe the most recent addition in the rather ambiguous role of executive director (technical). The team initially played down suggestions Lowe had been employed to replace Brawn, but the ex-McLaren technical director is expected to become team principal when Brawn eventually decides to step down.

Brawn, who will stay on at the team next year, said it would be a gradual process with no definitive handover date.

"There will be a point in the future when some of the responsibilities I have will be handled by Paddy," Brawn said. "But it won't be an abrupt stop and an abrupt start.

"Paddy and I have known each other for a very long time and we're working on the things where he can make a real contribution to the team. He's started to pick up some of those things and at some point in the future he will take on more responsibility.

"He joined the team earlier than we anticipated, but it will evolve in a way that is most positive for the team. We won't do anything that risks the potential of the team and I imagine that over the next year to 18 months things will evolve. But there is no firm time scale."

Brawn said there is a possibility he will attend fewer races in the future.

"It might be attractive not to have to do all the races," he added. "We will see what the best approach is. If we conclude that Paddy is better focusing on things at the factory, we will do what we feel is the strongest solution for the team."

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