Hungarian Grand Prix – Mercedes have announced the appointment of new board members, including Niki Lauda’s replacement as non-executive chairman.
Mercedes Grand Prix have confirmed the nomination of a new non-executive chairman to take over the role left vacant by Niki Lauda, following the Austrian’s death in May.
Lauda had worked in that role with Mercedes since 2012, and was instrumental in tempting Lewis Hamilton away from McLaren to join Merc for 2013. Lauda would continue in his role as non-executive chairman until his death from kidney issues after a period of ill health in the second half of 2018 and into 2019.
Markus Schafer, who is currently a member of the Board of Management at Daimler AG on the car development front, has been nominated to take his place, having become a non-executive director of Mercedes on the 11th of March.
Replacing Schafer in that role is Frank Markus Weber – who was Vice President Corporate Development at Daimlar. He takes over this role with immediate effect.
These are replacements for Ola Kallenius, who has taken over Dieter Zetche’s former role as Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG & Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, as well as Bodo Uebber, who stepped down from the board in May.
As a result of this, Schafer and Weber join Britta Seeger, Rene Berger and Toto Wolff on the board. Currently acting Team Principal & CEO Toto Wolff said: “The commitment of our parent company has been fundamental to the team’s success and will continue to be so in the years ahead.”
“This support for Formula One has always been reflected in our team’s board, with strong representation from Daimler’s senior leadership, and it continues through the appointments of Markus and Frank Markus for the years ahead.”
“Formula One is a powerful technology and marketing platform for Mercedes-Benz globally, and a valuable shop window for the company’s values and its competitiveness.”
