Niki Lauda has rubbished recent reports that Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn has already made his mind up over whether to remain at the team next year.
According to several sources including Eddie Jordan, Brawn has decided to leave at the end of the current season because he is growing tired of waiting for the Mercedes board to confirm what position and which powers he’ll have in 2014.
Lauda though, who is pushing for Brawn to remain despite recently hiring Toto Wolff and Paddy Lowe – the latter of which is likely to succeed Brawn – says he will remain in charge if he decides to stay.
“The speculation [that he will leave] is total rubbish,” the Austrian told The Times. “The situation is absolutely clear: I spoke to Ross a while ago and we agreed that he will come back to me after the final race of the season in Brazil to tell me whether he wants to stay or go.
“I am trying everything I can to encourage and motivate him to stay. I am the one who asked him to stay. I want him to do it but it is not my decision; it is his decision. If he stays, he will be team principal – nothing else – or he will retire.”
