“Things falling apart at Mercedes”- Andy Cowell a key figure in Mercedes F1 backroom, set to step down from his role from July 1.
Andy Cowell, Managing Director of Mercedes-AMG High-Performance Powertrains (HPP), has decided to step down from his position. His decision will be enforced before the start of this season.
Cowell will, however, participate in the transition process with his successor. He will also consult Mercedes-Benz on future major projects until early next year.
His departure comes amid reports that all is not well at Mercedes F1 team. There have been rumours of CEO and Team Principal Toto Wolff holding stakes in Aston Martin. The latter is the title partner of Red Bull Racing.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Vodcast. Ted Kravitz, their F1 pit-lane reporter, had this to say. ”It is beginning to seem that the ‘friends’ team that it was is falling apart.
“Cowell seems to have told his friends inside Mercedes that he does not have another team in mind, but is he really leaving without a guarantee to be able to work somewhere else? Cowell isn’t the biggest problem though, because he can still be replaced,”
“Everything stands or falls with Toto Wolff. There are good people who can replace all other employees in the organization, but when Toto leaves Lewis Hamilton will really start to worry. Then the dominance might disappear, as will happen to every dominant team at the end of the day.”
Mercedes AMG Petronas has won six world titles in a row from 2014 to 2019. If they win this season, they will break Ferrari’s record of most consecutive Constructors titles in a row. The Italian outfit won it from 1999 and 2004.
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But with speculation mounting that all is not well at Mercedes, anything is possible. Lewis Hamilton’s contract ends at the end of this season. It will be intriguing to see if he signs an extension after this development.
