Norbert Haug's successor is... Toto Wolff

[AndyL]

I did not see that coming!
Blow for Williams as Toto Wolff is confirmed as Mercedes motorsport bossJames Allen on F1 (http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2013/01/blow-for-williams-as-toto-wolff-is-confirmed-as-mercedes-motorsport-boss/)

What will Williams do now? Apparently Wolff will retain a 15% shareholding in Williams, but FW needs to find another heir to the crown now.

Presumably Toto's wife will remain as a Williams test driver since she got that position entirely on merit :rolleyes:

[AndyL]

I did not see that coming!
Blow for Williams as Toto Wolff is confirmed as Mercedes motorsport bossJames Allen on F1 (http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2013/01/blow-for-williams-as-toto-wolff-is-confirmed-as-mercedes-motorsport-boss/)

What will Williams do now? Apparently Wolff will retain a 15% shareholding in Williams, but FW needs to find another heir to the crown now.

Presumably Toto's wife will remain as a Williams test driver since she got that position entirely on merit :rolleyes:

[Tazio]

Not a comment on the wisdom of the move, but this seems like a bit of a conflict of interest. Should we be expecting to see Mercedes engines at Williams by 2014?

[driveace]

AND if Williams are to get Mercedes engines next year,are McLaren about to lose Mercedes engines next year,AND did Lewis know that ?

[AndyL]

I said on another thread that rumours are gathering momentum that Paddy Lowe is also about to announce he has joined Mercedes. I would be over the moon if true being a Hamilton fan but appreciate its a massive blow for McLaren.

I'm starting to wonder about the Generals:Foot-soldiers ratio at Mercedes. They're starting to look like the Royal Navy.

[AndyL]

Well they certainly are top heavy at the moment but there is talk Brawn and Fry may be moving on to pastures new at some point in the near future. Rumour of course. They earned a pretty penny out of the Brawn GP sale but its no secret Mercedes are unhappy with the progress of the team. Taking Michael back was a mistake in hindsight and I would imagine Ross took a lot of the flack for that. Taking on personel like Bob Bell, Geoff Willis, Aldo Costa, Mike Elliot, and Paddy Lowe might seem like overkill on the design side, but its a strong choice to pick from and many are expecting big things from Merc in 2014.

Fry going is no surprise I guess, given that fans have been expecting him to get the sack for most of his career :) But Brawn being pushed out (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/21143847) is a bit more unexpected. I'm not sure getting rid of the guy with 8 constructors' championships behind him is going to solve their problems.

[wedge]

Fry going is no surprise I guess, given that fans have been expecting him to get the sack for most of his career :) But Brawn being pushed out (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/21143847) is a bit more unexpected. I'm not sure getting rid of the guy with 8 constructors' championships behind him is going to solve their problems.

Whereas Paddy Lowe & McLaren have been WDC contenders in recent years.

Perhaps this is a bit like football management where a new manager wants to bring in their own team and Mercedes didn't see Brawn having a long term reign?

[driveace]

I was surprised the Fry was still in a job at Mercedes,as I would have given him his P45 ages ago,I always thought he was a man with a thousand excuses.As for Ross,I always thought he knew what he was doing even from his days at Ferrari,but he always came across as dull ,and never seemed to be telling the true story.I saw him do an interview at a Motorsport Show at Birmingham a few years ago,and liked the Liverpool man,but still thought of him as dull !

[Wasted Talent]

BBC are reporting Mercedes want Ross Brawn out...

BBC Sport - Formula 1: Ross Brawn role at Mercedes under threat (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/21143847)

WT

[CNR]

Wolff, Lauda to take Mercedes F1 stake | F1 News | Jan 2013 | Crash.Net (http://www.crash.net/f1/news/187410/1/wolff_lauda_to_take_mercedes_f1_stake.html)
Toto Wolff's move from Williams (http://www.crash.net/f1/team_profile/1/att_williams.html) to Mercedes will see the Austrian take a financial stake in the Brackley-based team as well as inheriting the role of executive director

[Knock-on]

Lots of speculation in the press and half of it rubbish.

Toto is in and Norbert is gone. Facts.

As for Ross, I 'expect' him to stay on. It isn't cast in stone that Toto arriving is his departure. Pat also has done a superb job despite what the fans think. At Honda he had his hands tied until the last year but then produced a great car. I can't see why Mercedes wouldn't incorporate Paddy and Pat to spearhead the direction.

Looks like a very strong team is developing but only if Mercedes can get all departments singing off the same hymn sheet.

[truefan72]

all this news at mercedes is troubling
To me they got too many chef's at the moment, and worse yet, too many chefs with massive ego's

Whatever happens in 2013, the firs iteration of the car has already been designed and it will be what it is
I suspect Brawn will stay on if the car proves to be successful, but if it goes like 2012 did, then I am pretty sure he will be gone
Any team without Fry is a better team imo

[wedge]

What is it about Fry that so many fans dislike? I've always seen him as a very valuable and loyal manager that any team would be lucky to have.

Corporate guy fast tracked into the upper echelon of F1 management.

I don't have a huge issue over him other than he is very difficult to warm to. Well spoken in the sense that he obviously spent a lot of time in the boardroom and even now you never quite sense that he has racing in his blood - CEO of MGP and background head-honcho with BGP perceptively says as much from an outsider's perspective.

[F1boat]

all this news at mercedes is troubling
To me they got too many chef's at the moment, and worse yet, too many chefs with massive ego's


That's what Dr. Marko said as well. Too many chefs at Mercedes and nobody knows who is doing exactly what.

[gloomyDAY]

Thanks for breaking the story Eddie Jordan!

[CNR]

F1: 'Financial Crisis' Threatens Formula 1, Horner Visits Ferrari - Reports | Reviews | Prices | Australian specifications (http://www.themotorreport.com.au/55816/f1-financial-crisis-threatens-formula-1-horner-visits-ferrari-reports)
Wolff hopes angry Brawn doesn't quit Toto Wolff says he hopes Ross Brawn stays at Mercedes.
With Wolff buying 30 per cent of the German team and becoming executive director, it is strongly rumoured that he has wooed McLaren's Paddy Lowe to join him.
That would appear a direct undermining of team principal and technical expert Brawn's position, with Daily Express journalist Bob McKenzie reporting that the 58-year-old is therefore "close to quitting".
Wolff said: "It's all speculation. Ross is here as part of the leading team and I hope he is going to stay."

[Knock-on]

Pat also has done a superb job despite what the fans think. At Honda he had his hands tied until the last year but then produced a great car. I can't see why Mercedes wouldn't incorporate Paddy and Pat to spearhead the direction.



Sorry, had a complete brain meltdown. I was of course refering to Nick and not Pat who is still very much at Ferrari. I blame age. Doh!! :D

[Knock-on]

I think we knew who you meant :)

Let me know will yer, as I don't have a clue :confused:

[AndyL]

all this news at mercedes is troubling
To me they got too many chef's at the moment, and worse yet, too many chefs with massive ego's

Actually it turns out they don't have enough chefs:
Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes is hungrier than any team he's seen (http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2013/01/lewis-hamilton-says-mercedes-is-hungrier-than-any-team-hes-seen/)

[wedge]

Actually it turns out they don't have enough chefs:
Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes is hungrier than any team he's seen (http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2013/01/lewis-hamilton-says-mercedes-is-hungrier-than-any-team-hes-seen/)

He never said there were too many chefs only that the chefs are hungry (and probably not doing their jobs right! :D ).

Apparantly its to do with Brawn's long term commitment. He insisted he was in the loop with regarding Paddy Lowe Brawn says, (http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2013/01/brawn-says-im-team-principal-and-im-in-charge/)