Goss replaces Lowe at McLaren

McLaren Technical Director Paddy Lowe has been placed on gardening leave after reportedly agreeing to join Mercedes in 2014.

The 50-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Mercedes throughout the winter and was linked to replacing Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn over the past couple of months, following various managerial shake-ups across the team.

While Mercedes have refused to confirm the speculation, rumours in the paddock suggest that Brawn will be replaced as the team boss at Mercedes at the end of the season, although Mercedes GP non-executive chairman Niki Lauda refused confirm or deny any of the reports in the media.

‘I cannot officially say anything because nothing has happened yet. Lauda told the BBC.

‘To be clear, Ross [Brawn] has not even been discussed, which is an important thing.

‘But there’s peace. Ross is in his position, he will stay in his position, so everything is under control, there is nothing to make out of this.’

On Monday, Brawn appeared content in his role at Mercedes explaining to formula1.com that the managerial changes at Mercedes would be good for the team: ‘it can be a problem if everybody tries to do the same thing! (laughs) It is important to have clear areas of responsibility. I am responsible for the sporting side; running the team on an operational level. If we can maintain that then there will not be a problem.’

But of course those comments could have been made before the recently developments regarding Lowe’s switch and who knows just how much knowledge Brawn knew of the situation.

As for Lowe, he will continue to be employed by McLaren through 2013 as he is contracted with the team until the end of the season, but with 2014 being such a big season for Formula One with various changes in regulations regarding engines, McLaren will not want Lowe involved in the team set-up only to take their secrets across to a main competitor.

Tim Goss who has been with McLaren since 1990 and was recently working as the teams Director of Engineering has been promoted to take Lowe’s role as Technical Director.

‘I’m delighted to have been offered the Technical Directorship of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes – one of the most prestigious positions in global sport – and I’m greatly looking forward to making a significant contribution to Vodafone McLaren Mercedes’ on-going success in that role,’ Goss said to Sky Sports.

While McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh confirmed that Lowe would no longer be involved in the teams Formula One set-up: ‘Paddy [Lowe] will be performing a different role within McLaren until the end of the year. He’s been a good and successful F1 Technical Director, and we wish him well when he embarks on a fresh challenge in 2014.’