• Mercedes

Pressure on Lowe and Wolff to replace Brawn - Lauda

ESPN Staff
December 2, 2013 « Race of Champions cancelled | Alonso was looking for Ferrari exit - Ecclestone »
Paddy Lowe (left) and Toto Wolff (right) will take over the responsibilities of Ross Brawn (centre) © Sutton Images
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Mercedes non-executive chairman Niki Lauda says the pressure is on Toto Wolff and Paddy Lowe to fill the gap left by departing team principal Ross Brawn next year.

Last week Mercedes announced Brawn would be leaving at the end of the year, handing over his responsibilities to Lowe, executive director (technical), and Wolff, executive director (business). After a year in which Mercedes improved dramatically on its 2012 results, Lauda said Lowe and Wolff have a lot to live up to.

"Now Toto Wolff and Paddy Lowe, and Paddy especially on the technical side, have to fill this big hole he [Brawn] has left," he was quoted by Reuters. "Don't worry, I am going to kick them like you do not believe... and hopefully we can keep on going."

Lauda admitted he wanted Brawn to stay at the team for another year and revealed that he would continue as a consultant until he finds a job elsewhere.

"I'm very sad about it because I wanted him to stay another year," he added. "But he says he wants to go fishing. So I really tried hard but he stays a consultant to me which I think is very good and important.

"He says he wants a rest. So it's very simple. I think he will not go in pension [retirement], this is clear. I think he will come back, I don't know with the FIA or whatever he likes to do."

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