Toto Wolff clarifies role remains unchanged after Mercedes appoints deputy team principal

Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff has firmly stated that his "role and overall responsibilities will not change one millimetre" following the formal appointment of long-serving communications chief Bradley Lord as the team's new Deputy Team Principal. The move formalizes a role Lord has effectively been performing, allowing Wolff to maintain his overarching leadership while enhancing the team's senior management structure.

Why it matters:

In a sport where leadership speculation is rife, Wolff's clear statement is a strategic move to quell any rumors of a reduced role or a succession plan being accelerated. As Mercedes continues its competitive rebuild, stable and unambiguous leadership from the top is crucial for team morale and operational focus. This appointment strengthens the leadership bench without disrupting the established chain of command.

The details:

• Bradley Lord, Mercedes' former Communications Director, has been formally appointed Deputy Team Principal with immediate effect, ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix.
• Lord had already been acting as the official team representative at races where Wolff was absent, handling media duties and other responsibilities.
• Wolff explained the promotion is a response to the growing scope of Formula 1 operations, calling it a change that has "been operating in practice for some time."
• He emphasized that Lord's new role is designed to "enhance the capability of our leadership group and provide continued support" for him as Team Principal and CEO.
• Context of Other Moves: This internal promotion comes amid other high-profile activities involving Wolff, including the sale of a minority stake in the team to investor George Kurtz and reported interest in acquiring a stake in the Alpine F1 team through a separate consortium bid.

What's next:

Lord's first official race in the role will be at the Japanese Grand Prix, where he will support the team's on-track operations. Wolff's definitive statement closes the door on immediate leadership changes, allowing the team to focus wholly on its performance recovery. The stability at the management level is now set, shifting the spotlight back onto Mercedes' progress with its 2026 car and power unit.