Paddy Lowe is leaving Mercedes, the Brackley team confirmed. It is expected Lowe to become Williams’ team principal. According to Mercedes’ announcement he is on gardening leave. But there probably is an opportunity for Lowe to join Williams earlier. It could be in connection with the alleged recruitment of Valtteri Bottas.
The Grove team announced at the end of 2016 that technical chief officer Pat Symonds will leave the team. He will oversee Williams’ work for a transition period, while probably helping Lowe to step in his new position. There is still no official announcement who will replace Nico Rosberg at Mercedes.
There will be no changes in the Mercedes management structure in the short term.
“Paddy has played an important part in our success during the past three and a half years”, Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport Toto Wolff said.
“Success in Formula One is not about single individuals but about the strength in depth and technical capability of an organisation.
“We have the talent in place to continue our success of recent years. We plan to build upon it in 2017 and beyond.”
Paddy Lowe: “I am now looking forward to a new challenge”
“I have had a fantastically successful and enjoyable three and a half years at Mercedes working with an incredible team of people.
“I am now looking forward to a new challenge and wish everyone well at Mercedes,” Lowe commented.
Paddy Lowe began his Formula 1 career at Williams in 1987, where he was Joint Head of Electronics. After 6 years there he moved to McLaren in 1993 and became Head of Research and Development. In 2001 Lowe took the position of Chief Engineer Systems Development and in May 2005 assumed the role of Engineering Director, while later – in January 2011 – became McLaren’s Technical Director. Paddy Lowe moved to Mercedes at the beginning of June 2013.
James Allison is lined up to replace Lowe at Mercedes, who left Ferrari during the summer of 2016.
