F1 Fanatic

Third big story to be produced by the German media: Paddy Lowe is apparently leaving McLaren for Mercedes, says the following article in Bild (yes, the same site that first broke the Glock- and Wolff-stories).

http://sportbild.bild.de/SPORT/formel-1/2013/01/21/paddy-lowe/mclaren-techniker-zu-mercedes.html

Nächste Personalentscheidung bei Mercedes: Nach der Bekanntgabe des Österreichers Toto Wolff als neuem Geschäftsführer und Teilhaber des Mercedes-Formel-1-Teams hat das Team laut SPORT BILD-Informationen gerade McLaren-Cheftechniker Paddy Lowe (50) abgeworben. Lowe gilt als Vertrauter des neuen Mercedes-Piloten Lewis Hamilton und als Kopf des genialen McLaren-Ingenieurs-Kollektivs.

Translated (my German is not that good): “Latest Mercedes staff decision: after announcing Toto Wolff as CEO and shareholder ['Teilhaber'], Mercedes has now recruited McLaren’s Paddy Lowe, according to SPORT BILD-information. Lowe has already worked with Lewis Hamilton in the past as McLaren’s technical director.”

The article also mentions that Toto Wolff had originally recruited Lowe for Williams.

That’s odd, works for me. If it doesn’t work, try the link in this tweet:

goo.gl/3m2yy This could be interested..! Sport Bild now reporting Paddy Lowe will leave #McLaren for #Mercedes…! #F1 #F1Buzz

— Jordan Irvine (@IrvineF1) January 21, 2013

It might save some time if we could just get a short list of team personnel who are NOT moving to Mercedes?

At this rate, Mercedes will be buying the race stewards from Ferrari…

If this is true than wow.. That makes me think, didn’t Lowe had some kind of contract with Mclaren? Is it really that easy to change teams? What about a forced period away from the sport, so relevant technical data can’t be shared? It’s publicly known that at least Adrian Newey has some sort of contract binding him to Redbull for atleast a couple of years… why didn’t Lowe/Mclaren had something like that in place?
… so many questions. But very interesting.

Some updates on this item:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/21143847

Lowe might be replacing… wait for it… Ross Brawn himself. Brawn’s role would be split between Wolff (titular team principal) and Lowe (sporting director running team day-to-day).

However:

#f1 Toto Wolff says that he wants Ross Brawn to stay at Mercedes F1 team. Can’t say anything about Paddy Lowe rumour

— James Allen (@Jamesallenonf1) January 22, 2013

And

#F1 Regarding @paddylowe Toto says “I read it in the paper that’s all I can tell you.” But he adds “at this stage”…

— Adam Cooper (@adamcooperf1) January 22, 2013

Looks like Brawn gone (booo) and Fry gone (yeeha)…….the appointment of Nikki makes sense now, he was the broom!!………….they have sooo many chiefs at this team, i fail to see how Bob Bell fits in now that Lowe is arriving……and as for where Brawn goes now??

they have sooo many chiefs at this team, i fail to see how Bob Bell fits in now that Lowe is arriving

I imagine that Bell, Elliot, Costa and Willis would each be in charge of a different aspect of the car, and answer directly to Lowe, who would take on the role of technical overseer.