Nick Fry steps down as CEO of MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS

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The MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One team today announced that Nick Fry, the team´s Chief Executive Officer, will step down from his current position at the beginning of April. He will continue to assist the team´s commercial operations as a consultant until at least the end of 2014.

Toto Wolff, the team´s new Executive Director and 30 per cent shareholder, will therefore take a greater role in the day-to-day running of the team alongside Team Principal Ross Brawn, assuming the areas of responsibility previously held by Nick.

"I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to work with our team for the last 11 years and remain extremely proud of the fact that we took the team to its first race win and especially the double World Championship in 2009. Equally important is the success of our commercial activities as we have managed to gain the support of some of the most important companies in the world, thereby building a strong foundation for the future success of the team," said Nick Fry. "I believe that MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS offers the best sponsorship proposition in Formula One and I look forward to continuing to assist the team and its partners over the coming years."

"I would like to thank Nick for more than ten years of service to the team in Brackley," commented Toto Wolff. "MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS enjoys a strong network of global, blue-chip partners who want to be associated with Mercedes-Benz in Formula One and we will work hard to retain our loyal partners while also attracting new names to the sport in the future. I am pleased that Nick will remain close to the team to support us in achieving these targets."

~ Official photo and details courtesy of MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS ~

Copyright © 2013, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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F1 Gossip: Toto Wolff spills more gas on fire amidst McLaren-Honda affair

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Toto Wolff, Merc's newly appointed motorsports chief, has recently expressed his fears the Silver Arrows team must do their best to protect the important know-how contained in the future V6 turbocharged engine the Brixworth engineers have developed for the 2014 season.

This statement comes in a period when hints that McLaren is in advanced discussions with former engine partner Honda for the revival of their historic alliance starting 2015 are becoming more evident. If you like, Wolff seems to be admitting the reality and intentionately reveals the real situation behind closed doors.

Needless to say, if the Woking-based team chooses the Japanese brand to supply its engines (which odds say it will), there will be some leaks concerning technical facts over the Mercedes-Benz 6-cylinder engine to Honda.

He further warned that, regardless of the outcome, the Germans really need to stay focused and supervise their ongoing contract with McLaren, at least for the remaining two years and crucially for next season (the alleged last season with Mercedes-powered McLarens on the grid), if Honda gets its deal signed with the British team.

Eager plans of McLaren might raise some questions of loyalty and confidence. It is their own choice to finish relationship with Mercedes-Benz, even though the performance, balance and reliability of the engines could hardly have been put at doubt during their long-term partnership which began in 1995.

Playing fair should be the right choice and battling weapon for the anticipated 2015 Telmex McLaren Honda Formula 1 Team.

Copyright © 2013, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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Australian F1 Grand Prix 2013: Lewis, Nico, Ross and Toto preview the first race of the season at Melbourne

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The 2013 Formula One championship gets underway in Melbourne this week with the first race of the season, the Australian Grand Prix, held at the Albert Park circuit in the city. For MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS, 2013 sees an exciting new driver pairing with Lewis Hamilton joining the team to partner Nico Rosberg at the wheel of the Silver Arrows cars.

- The Safety Car has been deployed in six of the last ten races in Melbourne - including four of the last five

- Mercedes-Benz power has won four of the past five Australian Grands Prix

- 60% of Australian Grand Prix winners in the past decade have gone on to become World Champion

Lewis Hamilton
"It´s the start of a new season and the beginning of a new adventure for me with MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS. I can´t wait to get to Melbourne, get out on track and find out where we stand. The Australian Grand Prix is always an exciting race: the teams don´t know how they compare in terms of performance, the fans are fantastic and, with big changes to the tyres again this year, we just don´t know what will happen in the race. I love the circuit. It´s a street track with a really bumpy surface so you try and put as much downforce on the car as possible and it really puts the drivers to the test. We had a good, reliable car during winter testing so that´s the positive we can take with us into the weekend but we know that in terms of performance, everything begins again from zero in Friday practice. So let´s get Down Under, get racing and see how things turn out."

Nico Rosberg
"Melbourne is a great place to kick off the new Formula One season. I really like the city and the Australian fans at the circuit are always fantastic and so supportive. The first Grand Prix is where everyone finds out where they really are and we can judge how well we have done against our competition as the times in winter testing just don´t tell the full story. The weather in Melbourne looks very hot at the moment which is going to be a tough challenge as we have no experience with the F1 W04 in those conditions. Tyre degradation will be the biggest issue for everyone so we need to look at that carefully and do a good job in managing it. I´m really looking forward to next weekend and getting the season underway."

Ross Brawn
"The start of a new Formula One season is always an intense but exciting time for the team. Our factories in Brackley and Brixworth have been buzzing with activity with both Nico and Lewis visiting to complete their final preparations on the simulator, and the team working to finish the cars, engines and pack the freight for the four flyaway races coming up. The first race is where we can really begin to assess our competitive position and how much of a step forward we have made with our new Silver Arrow. We had a successful pre-season testing programme and personally, I am pleased with the progress we have made, both with the car and in terms of how we operate as a team. However, testing is simply that; racing is a completely different situation and Melbourne will see much higher track temperatures and more varied conditions than we have experienced so far. We´re looking forward to the challenge and to the action starting in Melbourne next weekend."

Toto Wolff
"When it comes to starting a new season, it´s only facts that count - everything else is simply speculation. The facts are that we had a good winter test programme, completed the second highest mileage of any team and made some good progress. Lewis and Nico are working well together and there is a positive dynamic in the team, from the factory to the track. So we head to Australia well prepared. But we know, too, that we will be running in very different temperatures, on a different track surface and that every team will have to finally lay their cards on the table in qualifying on Saturday. Only then can we have a first indication of where we stand in terms of performance. It may sound clichéd but our goal is simply to perform as well as possible. We know that we must go forward from last season and we are proud to be representing Mercedes-Benz on the global stage. Now we have to live up to that standard."

~ Official photo and details courtesy of MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS ~

Copyright © 2013, mercedesgla. All rights reserved.

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Mercedes-Benz strengthens Formula 1 racing team

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Daimler AG plans to reorganize its Formula 1 activities. In this context, Daimler has signed a letter of intent with Austrian investor and motorsport manager Toto Wolff, according to which Wolff will acquire a significant minority interest in the Daimler subsidiary Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd. (MGP) and will also head that company as its executive director. Furthermore, Niki Lauda, currently non-executive chairman of MGP, will also acquire a stake in the company. Together with Ross Brawn, Lauda and Wolff will complete the management of the Mercedes-Benz Formula 1 racing team.

"As an entrepreneur, investor and motorsport manager, Toto Wolff has proven that this sport runs in his blood; at the same time, he is also well aware of the economic necessities of the business. With Toto Wolff, we have gained for our Formula 1 team not only an experienced motorsport specialist, but also a longstanding enthusiast of the Mercedes-Benz brand. Together with him and Niki Lauda, we will further develop our motorsport activities and guide our Silver Arrows into the next era," stated Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars and Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG.

Toto Wolff is to become both a shareholder and executive director of Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd., and will take over the complete coordination of all Mercedes-Benz motorsport activities.

Wolff sees his new task as one of the most exciting challenges in motorsport: "Mercedes is one of the most important participants in motorsport worldwide. I am not only a big fan, but also a longstanding friend and enthusiast of the brand. I am looking forward to the challenge and, along with preparing for a successful racing season, also want to focus on the targeted promotion of new talent".

"I am leaving Williams on good terms and I will miss the team and friends I have made there. I'd also like to wish Frank and the whole of Williams the best of luck for the future", Wolff added.

Toto Wolff started his motorsport career in Formula Sport in 1992. Since 1998, Wolff has founded several venture capital companies. His current investments include an interest in HWA AG, the partner of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport in DTM racing. In November 2009, he acquired a stake in British racing team Williams Grand Prix Holdings PLC and joined its board of directors. Since July 2012, Toto Wolff has been a member of that team’s management. Toto Wolff will resign from that position when he joins Mercedes-Benz, but will remain a Williams shareholder.

~ Official photos and details courtesy of MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS ~

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