Mercedes announce unexpected F1 leadership change

Mercedes has announced that Bradley Lord has been promoted from chief communications officer to deputy team principal, working even more closely with Toto Wolff.

The transition is effective immediately, and the Briton has deputised for Wolff as the Brackley-based squad's team representative in the past, when the 54-year-old has needed to miss grand prix weekends.

Upon confirmation of the news, the Austrian said: "With the growth of our team and F1, the scope of our operations and associated responsibilities at a senior level has grown significantly.

"We have therefore taken this opportunity to put in place a change that has effectively been operating in practice for some time. 
 
"While my role and overall responsibilities will not change one millimetre, Bradley's work as Deputy Team Principal will further enhance the capability of our leadership group and provide continued support for me as our Team Principal and CEO. 
 
"Bradley is a dedicated and long-serving member of our organisation who has played an important part in the team becoming the most successful of the modern era.

"Aligning our structure in this way ensures our leadership group can focus fully on the areas where they can add the greatest value and is optimised to meet the demands of a rapidly growing sport."

The change comes amid a strong start to the campaign for the eight-time F1 constructors' champions, with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli clean-sweeping all three qualifying sessions and races so far this year.

The former leads the F1 drivers' standings for the first time in his career, with his team-mate just four points back.