Lowe reunited with Hamilton at Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton will be reunited with Paddy Lowe sooner than expected after Mercedes announced yesterday that the former McLaren technical head was joining their F1 team next month.

Mercedes said in a statement that the Briton had been appointed executive director (technical) and would start on June 3 – the week of the Canadian Grand Prix – after agreement was reached with McLaren for him to be released from the remaining seven months of his contract.

Lowe will work closely with team principal Ross Brawn, the man he could one day replace, who retains overall responsibility for technical and sporting matters.

McLaren had already put Lowe on ‘gardening leave’, removing him from sensitive work, with Tim Goss being promoted to the role of technical director. They announced last week that they would switch from Mercedes engines to Honda in 2015.

Lowe’s arrival at Mercedes, who signed 2008 world champion Hamilton last year, had been flagged up since January when reports indicated that he was being lined up as Brawn’s replacement.

Brawn said: “It is no secret that every team is facing a significant balancing act between this year and next. But it is perhaps less obvious 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.

“To deliver in these circumstances, a successful team needs strength in depth. Paddy’s arrival will further strengthen our organisation and puts us in a strong position for the future.”

The rules are changing significantly next year, with a new 1.6 litre turbocharged V6 engine with energy recovery systems replacing the current 2.4 litre V8 units.