Non-executive chairman Niki Lauda has tried for months to persuade one of the
most successful men in the sport to stay on, especially ahead of the most
dramatic change in the regulations for 2014.
The V8-powered era came to an end with Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix at
Interlagos, with Formula One to run turbo-charged 1.6-litre V6 powertrains
from next season.
Despite that, and on the back of Mercedes’ highest finish in the constructors’
championship this season since their return to the sport in 2010 with
second, Brawn feels compelled to leave.
Believing he departs with the team in good shape, Brawn added: “Mercedes-Benz
has invested significantly in both the personnel and infrastructure at
Brackley and Brixworth (engines).
“Thanks to the one-team approach we have implemented between the two
facilities, the team is uniquely positioned to succeed in 2014 and I am
proud to have helped lay the foundations for that success.
“However, 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 the organisation is in the strongest
possible competitive position for the years to come.
“We can take pride not just in our on-track achievements but also in the
organisation we have built at Brackley.
“In its different guises over the past six seasons this team has
delivered some of the most memorable moments of my career.
“Our second place in this season’s constructors’ championship is an
important milestone on the road to championship success.
“I am confident the future will hold just as much success for the team
and will take real pride in having played my own part in those achievements.”
Despite Lauda’s efforts to keep Brawn on board, the three-times F1 world
champion appreciates he was ultimately powerless to stop him from quitting.
“First of all and most importantly, we must say thank you to Ross,” Lauda
said.
“When you consider the step that has been made from finishing fifth in 2012 to
the second place that we have secured this season, he has been the architect
of this success.
“He put the plans in place to recruit key people since early 2011, and the
performance this season shows the team is on the right track.
“We have had long discussions with Ross about how he could continue with the
team, but it is a basic fact you cannot hold somebody back when they have
chosen to move on.
“Ross has decided this is the right time to hand over the reins to Toto and
Paddy and we respect his decision.
“Toto and Paddy are the right people to lead our team in 2014 and beyond.”
Upon the arrival of Lowe from McLaren in the middle of the year, Brawn
remarked at the time there would be “a soft handover”.
It is now clear the past months have represented that phase.
Dr Dieter Zetsche, chairman of the board of management of Daimler AG and head
of Mercedes-Benz Cars, said: “Last winter we restructured the management of
our Formula One activities, with the support of Niki.
“The first step was to convince Toto to join us (from Williams) to run our
Mercedes-Benz motorsport activities and our Formula One company.
“The second step was the recruitment of Paddy during 2013.
“This gave us a clear succession plan for the time when Ross decided to step
down from his current role, and that time has now come.
“I have every confidence Toto and Paddy will build on Ross’ good work and they
possess exactly the balance of skills required to lead our team to world
championship success.
“I would like to personally thank Ross for the calm authority with which he
has led our works team since 2010, for his crucial contribution to our
team’s development and also for the undoubted share he will have in our
future success.
“It has been a pleasure working with him over the past four years and I extend
all my very best wishes to him for the future.”
Brawn has appreciably linked with a number of roles, notably with regard to
Honda’s return to F1 in 2015 when they will supply McLaren with the new
powertrain units, along with a position at the FIA.
Brawn, who celebrated his 59th birthday on Saturday, has played a part in 16
titles overall – eight drivers’ and eight constructors’.
Arguably his most defining moment came in 2009 when, with his own team
following Honda’s exit from F1, he helped Jenson Button claim the world
title.