Haug to leave Mercedes

Norbert Haug is leaving his role as Mercedes’ motor sport chief "by mutal agreement" at the end of this month.

A statement issued by the German carmaker said that, after his more than two decades in the role, the 60-year-old’s contract is ending.

"Preparations for the forthcoming season continue as planned," Thursday’s announcement read.

The statement did not give a reason for Haug’s sudden departure, or who might replace him.

But in late September, triple world champion Niki Lauda joined the board of Mercedes’ Brackley based works F1 team as non-executive chairman.

The great Austrian said recently: "(Team boss) Ross (Brawn) has not been in danger and he never will be. He’s the boss.

"I’m just the head of the supervisory board. I just have to look at everything and ask ’What are the strengths, what are the weaknesses?’"

Mercedes statement in full:

After more than 22 years as Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport, Daimler AG Vice President Norbert Haug will conclude his career at the end of 2012. His contract will come to an end by mutual agreement with the Board of Management. Preparations for the forthcoming season continue as planned.

Norbert Haug has led the Motorsport division of Mercedes-Benz since 1 October 1990. In that time, Mercedes-Benz and its partners won six Formula One world championship titles and took 87 Formula One victories. In the DTM, Mercedes teams won a total of 32 titles under Haug’s leadership. Since the first title win in 1992, Mercedes-Benz has won 54% of all DTM races and about 60% of all DTM titles (drivers/manufacturers/teams). During that period of time Mercedes-Benz has competed in 986 races in total (Formula One, Champ Car, GT, Group C, Formula 3) under Haug’s leadership and won 439 of them (45.4%).

“Norbert Haug was the face of the Mercedes-Benz Motorsport programme for more than 20 years. For me, he put his stamp on a whole era and, as a highlight, he was responsible for the successful comeback of the Silver Arrows to Formula One. In the name of the Board of Management and the whole motorsport family, I would like to thank Norbert for his extraordinary commitment to the three-pointed star,” said Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars and CEO of Daimler AG.

“I would like to thank the best car company in the world for more than 22 years, which never had a single moment without passion for me. I particularly wish to thank the Board for the trust and freedom they have always given me with all my activities. Since 1991, we had tremendous achievements and wins, for which I want to thank all of my colleagues. Unfortunately, with one victory in 2012 since founding our own Formula One works team in 2010, we couldn’t fulfil our own expectations. However, we have taken the right steps to be successful in the future. Our team and our drivers will do everything to achieve these goals,” said Norbert Haug.