Mercedes appoints Bradley Lord as deputy team principal

Mercedes has promoted long-serving communications chief Bradley Lord to the role of deputy team principal, formalizing his expanded responsibilities within the championship-winning team's leadership structure. The move is designed to support Team Principal and CEO Toto Wolff as the operational demands of the sport continue to grow, though Wolff's own role and authority remain unchanged.

Why it matters:

This appointment reflects the increasing complexity of managing a top-tier Formula 1 team in an era of rapid sport and commercial growth. By solidifying Lord's position, Mercedes aims to optimize its leadership group, allowing key figures like Wolff to focus on high-value strategic areas while ensuring day-to-day operations and external communications are managed effectively by a trusted, experienced insider.

The details:

• Bradley Lord joined the Mercedes F1 team in 2013 as Communications Manager and most recently served as the team's representative and Chief Communications Officer.
• The new role of deputy team principal formalizes responsibilities that had "grown organically" for Lord over recent years within the Brackley-based squad.
• Team Principal Toto Wolff emphasized that his own role "will not change one millimetre," clarifying that Lord’s promotion is to enhance the leadership group's capability and provide him with continued support.
• Lord brings over two decades of F1 experience, beginning as a press office intern with Benetton in 2001, followed by roles at the Renault F1 Team and Mercedes parent company Daimler AG before joining the Mercedes F1 team over a decade ago.
• The appointment is effective immediately.

What's next:

The structural tweak is a proactive move by Mercedes to streamline its operations for the relentless F1 calendar and the team's own ambitious goals. With Lord handling an increased share of managerial duties, the leadership can concentrate on the critical technical and competitive challenges ahead, including the major regulatory reset for the 2026 season. This internal promotion signals stability and rewards institutional knowledge as Mercedes prepares for its next phase of competition.