Ross Brawn has confirmed the anticipated news that he will leave Mercedes at the end of the year, formally tendering his resignation as Team Principal. Leadership of the outfit will now be headed up by Executive Directors Toto Wolff and Paddy Lowe.
Brawn has been at the helm of the Brackley-based workforce since late 2007, playing a key role through their Honda, Brawn GP and most recently works Mercedes guises.
But his position has come under scrutiny in recent months, with Lowe – who signed from rivals McLaren at the beginning of the season – seen as the 59-year-old's long term successor.
And, "following an extended period of open discussion between the team's key stakeholders," Brawn has decided to step down, handing business and technical responsibilities to Wolff and Lowe respectively.
"The most important consideration in my decision to step down from the role as Team Principal was to ensure that the timing was right for the team in order to ensure its future success," said Brawn.
"The succession planning process that we have implemented during this year means we are now ready to conduct the transition from my current responsibilities to a new leadership team composed of Toto and Paddy."
He added: "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 that the organisation is in the strongest possible competitive position for the years to come."
Non-Executive Chairman Niki Lauda said: "First of all and most importantly, we must say thank you to Ross. 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.
"We have had long discussions with Ross about how he could continue with the team but it is a basic fact that you cannot hold somebody back when they have chosen to move on. Ross has decided that 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."
Brawn will official leave the team on December 31, with his future plans yet to be determined.
Brawn has been at the helm of the Brackley-based workforce since late 2007, playing a key role through their Honda, Brawn GP and most recently works Mercedes guises.
But his position has come under scrutiny in recent months, with Lowe – who signed from rivals McLaren at the beginning of the season – seen as the 59-year-old's long term successor.
And, "following an extended period of open discussion between the team's key stakeholders," Brawn has decided to step down, handing business and technical responsibilities to Wolff and Lowe respectively.
"The most important consideration in my decision to step down from the role as Team Principal was to ensure that the timing was right for the team in order to ensure its future success," said Brawn.
"The succession planning process that we have implemented during this year means we are now ready to conduct the transition from my current responsibilities to a new leadership team composed of Toto and Paddy."
He added: "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 that the organisation is in the strongest possible competitive position for the years to come."
Non-Executive Chairman Niki Lauda said: "First of all and most importantly, we must say thank you to Ross. 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.
"We have had long discussions with Ross about how he could continue with the team but it is a basic fact that you cannot hold somebody back when they have chosen to move on. Ross has decided that 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."
Brawn will official leave the team on December 31, with his future plans yet to be determined.
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