It could be a split design team but isn't it a bit late for that? Ferrari recently announced that they had 2 deputy chief designers, one responsible for the 2013 car and one for the 2014 car. What they didn't tell you is that Fabio and Simone (the two designers) have held these new positions since April last year. I think its more likely that someone is being replaced. It can't be Costa as he's only worked there for a year and had very little input into the W03. My guess would be Bob Bell. That's all assuming Paddy Lowe is actually leaving.
There's little Lowe can do with the W04 which will be Bob's focus, so Lowe will likely be more involved with the W05 for 2014.
Quick question. Has any Merc car had the same designer, or have they have a different guy do it each year?
Not good for long term stability then. With the other top teams, you sort of know what you're going to get. Red Bull will always have "questionably legal" parts on the car as long as Newey is involved, the McLaren will always start slowly and develop well with Paddy Lowe in charge etc.
Still haven't recovered from 2012, now 2013 chucks me Toto wolf and Paddy Lowe even before February comes around!
An old subject but should clear things up a bit with where Lowe could go: Mercedes AMG has begun to restructure its technical team. Italian magazine 'Autosprint' reports that the team's chief of aerodynamics, John Owen, will be promoted from his current position to become the technical director. (Bob Bell's job) Along with the promotion of John Owen, 'Autosprint' has learned that Mike Elliot, who has just joined the team after leaving Lotus will fill Owen's old position. While this may all seem like natural progress, it does create questions as to what will happen with the current technical leaders at Mercedes, including Aldo Costa, Geoff Willis and Bob Bell. All three are highly respected and have also only joined Mercedes in 2011. Aldo Costa was picked up after leaving Ferrari, Geoff Willis came from HRT after a 2-year spell at Red Bull Racing and Bob Bell left Renault as Managing Director. It is unclear if the men are going to be retained at Mercedes, it is also possible the Mercedes is looking to reduce F1 costs and may seek to create a leaner organizational structure. ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// So it looks like Lowe will be either: **Engineering director: Aldo Costa Technology director: Geoff Willis **Since Lowe was an Engineer director before he was Tech,D at McLaren. So the new lineup should be: Technical director: John Owen Aero: Mike Elliot Engineer,D: Paddy Lowe Technology,D: Geoff Willis Axed: Costa and Bell
Very interesting that Lowe has possibly joined at relatively the same time as Hamilton I thought that the general consensus was that Lewis did not get along with the senior management at McLaren which is one of the reasons why he left
I thought that this year's car for Mercedes was mainly designed by Aldo Costa. Would be strange letting him go.
Well it isn't Geoff Willis either since he is on the W05. Ross: "One of our strong points is our technical staff, Aldo Costa is currently working on the 2013 car while Geoff Willis is concentrating on the car for 2014." Maybe Lowe is to oversee both designs with these 2? The 2013 car wouldn't be that big of a project I would of thought. Lowe would bring some McLaren designs quickly enough to warrant taking over Costa on the W04 and then the W05 midway through the season. Costa will likely be phased out in my opinion since Willis has worked for RBR and did help them get to the top with Newey. The W04 has also been completed for some time now I might add, Lowe would just be there to refine it somewhat.
True. But would Mclaren let Lowe go knowing that Lowe has knowledge of their 2013 car? It would be a rather stupid decision unless he really wants to leave.
Lowe has a rep for really developing a car throughout a season so he's jointed at the right time Its becoming a battle now to keeps my hopes low for this season. I still know in my heart of hearts that its going to take extreme driving, or luck (or both) for Hamilton to get good results next season.
Well they say Toto convinced him to join Williams which is the only team I would bet Ron would be nicer to not allow certain restrictions. Since Wolf had the contract he jumped ship to Mercedes with Lowe instead screwing over McLaren in the process. You probably find 2013 has pretty much reached it's peak in development for all teams, so losing Lowe for 2013 wont really be that massive, it gains more for Mercedes than a loss for McLaren. All the stuff McLaren would of put in the car for 2013 would take Mercedes a few months to create let alone design and put on the car in less than 6-7 months.
Godly words from EJ: "Paddy Lowe is going to Mercedes and it would appear that Brawn and Fry are on their way out, and Lowe will be there in a very senior capacity," Jordan said. "Lowe won't be technical director; he'll be more senior than that. But he won't be called team principal either," Jordan said, "because that will be Wolff. But Lowe will effectively be running the team on a day-to-day basis." Full link from BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/21143847 Sounds like (Most) Costa/Brawn/Fry/Bell will get the boot within the next 6 months (July) now that Lowe is coming in. Lowe will be Mercedes Newey where he calls the shots Helmut Marko already ****ting himself
Rumours a few months back saying he was going to Ferrari. http://www.blogf1.it/2012/11/29/per-brawn-si-profila-un-clamoroso-ritorno-in-ferrari/ Makes sense to be honest, they say Brawn wont be there during the 2nd half of 2013, and now EJ and BBC say Lowe will replace him within 6 months.
