Mercedes promotes Bradley Lord to Deputy Team Principal

Mercedes announced today that Bradley Lord will step into the role of Deputy Team Principal, reporting directly to Team Principal and CEO Toto Wolff. Lord, a Mercedes veteran who has led the team’s communications since 2013, moves from chief communications duties to a senior operational position as the team adapts to a larger, more complex Formula 1 landscape. The promotion is effective immediately.

Why it matters:

The promotion expands Wolff’s leadership bandwidth at a time when the sport’s technical, commercial and regulatory demands are accelerating. By promoting from within, Mercedes reinforces continuity after a decade of dominance, and the deputy role mirrors a grid‑wide shift toward broader senior‑leadership groups.

The details:

• Lord joined Mercedes in April 2013 as Communications Manager and progressed to Head of F1 Communications, then Communications Director, before becoming Chief Communications Officer in 2023; today he steps up as Deputy Team Principal.
• His communications background gave him deep insight into media strategy, driver liaison and crisis management, skills the team expects to translate into operational leadership.
• Wolff said the change won’t alter his own responsibilities but will “enhance the capability of our leadership group” and give him additional support.

What's next:

Lord will now oversee day‑to‑day operations, race‑weekend strategy and driver‑team coordination, freeing Wolff to focus on long‑term vision. Mercedes hopes the expanded leadership will keep the team agile as 2026 power‑unit and aerodynamic regulations reshape the sport, and the move may precede further senior appointments in performance and technical departments.