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Williams confirms Wolff's exit

Toto Wolff is leaving Williams to join Mercedes © Sutton Images

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Williams has confirmed Toto Wolff is leaving its management board to take up a new role at Mercedes, but the Austrian will retain his shareholding in the British team.

Wolff is set to take over the responsibilities previously held by Norbert Haug at Mercedes after working with Williams since 2009 when he took a minority shareholding in the team. Last year he upped his involvement with the British outfit when he was appointed as an executive director, but on Monday the team confirmed Wolff would be leaving that role to join Mercedes.

"I would like to thank Toto for his hard work, dedication and commitment to the team during his time as a director of the company," team boss Sir Frank Williams said. "He was a key support to me as executive director last season, deputising at a number of races when I was unable to attend. However, positions such as the one offered to him by Mercedes do not come around often.

"Toto has a long history with them and I certainly was not going to stand in the way of him accepting this once in a lifetime opportunity. Toto will retain his shareholding in Williams and will always have a place at Grove but make no mistake; we will fight him hard on the racetrack!

"I am sure he will be a strong asset for Mercedes and on behalf of the whole team I would like to wish him the best of luck in his new role. I'm lucky to have a very professional group of people around me and the company's executive committee will continue the work they have been doing to ensure a successful future for the business."

Wolff is also a co-owner of HWA, which runs Mercedes' assault on the DTM in Germany.

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