Mercedes F1 Team revealed new structure of its High Performance Powertains squad following the decision of Andy Cowell to step down from his current role.
Cowell will leave his current role of being the Managing Director of Mercedes-AMG HPP to become a consultant until 2021, as the new structure will come in place from July 1 onward, which will report to both Markus Schafer and Toto Wolff.
Hywel Thomas has been appointed as the Managing Director, who will look after the F1 Power Unit as Adam Allsopp will be the Project One Powertrain Director and report to Schafer. Operations Director will be Richard Stevens and Finance and IT Director will be Ronald Ballhaus.
Additionally, the Formula E Powertrain Chief Engineer Pierre Godof will continue to lead development for the all-electric racing series. Cowell, meanwhile, will assist Thomas as mentioned above to better complete the transition period.
Upon the announcement, Schafer said: “Our new senior leadership team at HPP knows the business inside out – and I am confident they will drive the company forward with energy and innovation over the coming years.
“From F1, to Formula E, to Project One, they are responsible for some of our most exciting and challenging R&D projects on our journey towards carbon free mobility and raising our digital competence to a next level – and I know that each of these areas will thrive under their leadership.
“I also wish to say a special word of thanks to Andy for his contribution to Mercedes over the past sixteen years. His legacy at Mercedes is not measured simply in race wins and world championships, it is also in the competitive spirit and engineering ambition that characterise the team at HPP. Andy will support a major future project of Mercedes-Benz AG and we wish him well for the next stage of his career.”
Wolff – who has worked with Cowell in their recent F1 success – added: “Andy’s leadership of the team at HPP has been a key factor in our championship success in recent seasons. He has made an outstanding contribution to our motorsport legacy and I have valued and enjoyed our working relationship since 2013; I am sure he will enjoy great success in the next challenge he decides to take on.
“Our philosophy has always been that a winning team is a dynamic organisation, and that change is a natural part of every company’s development. I am particularly pleased that we have been able to work together to create a new leadership structure, by building on the strength in depth of the team in Brixworth. It puts us in a very strong position for the years ahead, as we aim to set new benchmarks in Formula One and Formula E.”
Incoming MD Thomas said: “I am proud to have been part of Mercedes HPP for 16 years and it is an incredible organisation in terms of its team spirit, values and integrity. That is no small part thanks to the leadership it has enjoyed over the years, from Mario Illien and Paul Morgan through to the current day.
“Andy and I have worked together throughout my time here and I am thankful to have been able to learn from him during this time and through a period of great success for the team. Our new leadership group is very excited to step up to this new challenge: we have an incredible team of people at Brixworth, and we are all focused on delivering maximum performance on track in the years ahead.”
And finally, Cowell stated: “After 16 enjoyable years working for HPP, I have decided that now is the right time to move on from my role and seek a new engineering business challenge. I have appreciated the opportunity to work with Markus and Toto in defining the future leadership structure of the company and I have every confidence in the ability of Hywel and the team to lead the company forward.
“It has been an absolute honour to work for Mercedes and especially to be Managing Director of Mercedes HPP for seven years. Thank you to everyone who has provided me with such amazing opportunities and enjoyable challenges, especially Ola Kallenius who had the courage to support me back in 2006.”
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