Brawn: Paddy and I will find a way to live together

Ross Brawn

Ross Brawn has hinted that Mercedes has just appointed his successor.

Briton Brawn, 58, is currently Mercedes' team principal, but big rumours this year had linked former McLaren technical director Paddy Lowe with that job.

Mercedes has negotiated Lowe's early release from his McLaren 'gardening leave', but in a statement the Brackley based team said the 51-year-old is the new executive technical director -- not team boss as was speculated.

"Ross Brawn will retain overall responsibility for technical and sporting matters," said Mercedes.

For the longer term, however, it might be seen that Lowe is now preparing to succeed Brawn.

Brawn hinted at that in the official statement, saying the transition from this year's V8 regulations to the turbo V6s next year is not the only challenge facing big teams.

"It is perhaps less obvious," he said, "that we will also see major changes for the 2015 and 2016 seasons, as development progresses with the new generation of car design and power unit."

And Brawn told Italy's Autosprint this week: "Paddy and I will find a way to live together.

"Sooner or later I will retire, but first I want to see the fruits of the hard work."

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