KEY MERCEDES F1 ENGINE MAN LEAVES
Dominant for most of Formula 1’s hybrid powertrain era, Mercedes faces a new challenge after a key architect of its engine programme signalled his intention to leave. Mercedes Benz High Performance
Powertrains managing director Andy Cowell has been with the company for 16 years following previous stints at BMW and Cosworth in Formula 1.
Cowell has vacated his role and will depart the company next year after a period of acting as a consultant, which will include managing the transition to his successors, a leadership team which will consist of existing staff: Hywel Thomas (managing director), Adam Allsopp (powertrain director), Richard Stevens (operations director) and Ronald Ballhaus (finance and IT director). The nature of the new structure is in itself an acknowledgment of how many hats Cowell wore, from managing the business to playing an active role in engineering oversight. He informed Mercedes of his intentions in January and said in a statement, “I have decided that now is the right time to move on from my role and seek a new engineering business challenge.”
What that challenge is remains to be seen, although some pundits have speculated that his ultimate destination may be Aston Martin, which is returning to F1 next season as a manufacturer via a rebranding of the Racing Point team, with which it has a major shareholder – Lawrence Stroll – in common. Mercedes F1 team principal Toto Wolff is a minor shareholder.
Aston Martin will continue to run Mercedes hybrid powertrains in F1 next season. Given the road car company’s imperilled financial state – which opened the door to Stroll’s acquisition in the first place – it’s unlikely the funds or the will exists for a works engine programme in Formula 1 when there is a balance sheet in urgent need of shoring up.
“NOW IS THE RIGHT TIME TO MOVE ON FROM MY ROLE AND SEEK A NEW ENGINEERING BUSINESS CHALLENGE” ANDY COWELL