F1: Lowe Mercedes Deal Not Yet Done, Says Wolff

Formula 1

F1: Lowe Mercedes Deal Not Yet Done, Says Wolff

Mercedes motor sport boss Toto Wolff says not so fast...

Adam Cooper | http://www.speedtv.com | Posted March 16, 2013 Melbourne (AUS)

Toto Wolff, Mercedes' shareholder and director. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Mercedes motor sport boss Toto Wolff insists that the expected arrival of Paddy Lowe in 2014 is still not a done deal.

McLaren has already confirmed that Lowe is leaving at the end of the year – even officially wishing him well in his new challenge in a press release – but there has been no confirmation from Mercedes.

Ross Brawn confirmed at the Jerez test that Lowe would come on board if he left, indicating that the latter would fill the team principal role. However sources have suggested that there could yet be room for Lowe to work with Brawn, alongside fellow ‘star names’ Bob Bell, Aldo Costa and Geoff Willis.

“Well obviously that situation is not perfect,” Wolff said of the ongoing speculation. “We’ve discussed it and said Ross is the team principal, he’s running the racing team, and this is how it’s going to stay. We haven’t even started the 2013 season. We feel right working together, we have a good spirit internally, and Paddy Lowe coming or not is just so far ahead it makes no sense to talk about it now.

“It’s too early to say that he’s coming. This is a complex process, it’s not just that you hire somebody and that’s it, off you go – discussions are ongoing. Paddy is a good guy. It’s about fitting someone in the organization, so it’s not yet done.”

Lowe is still employed by McLaren, but is apparently only rarely seen at the factory. Team sources say that he could yet be asked to spend some time working in the road car division while his contract runs out.

Adam Cooper notched up his 28th season as a racing journalist in 2012. He has written about F1 for SPEED.com since 2005. Follow him on Twitter.