Andy Cowell to step down as managing director at Mercedes HPP

He is one of the great architects of the success of the Star in the era of the 6L turbo hybrid V1.6. Andy Cowell will step down as managing director of Mercedes High-Performance Powertrains, the engine department of the six-time world champion team based in Brixworth (UK). 

Present within the walls for 16 years, including 7 as general manager, Cowell made his intentions known to Mercedes in January 2020. From July 1, a new management team will be put in place, while the current manager will support the transition and continue to work “ on a major project with Mercedes-Benz AG » until the beginning of 2021. 

The new structure will be composed of the following people: Hywel Thomas, who will be appointed general manager and will be directly in charge of the propeller F1 ; Adam Allsopp, who will run the Project One engine and report directly to Daimler board member Markus Schäfer; operations director Richard Stevens; IT and financial director Ronald Ballhaus. Pierre Godof, chief engineer in charge of the powertrain of Formula e will continue to take care of the development of 100% electric competition projects. 

Toto wolff, team principal and CEO of the Mercedes team, praised Cowell's leadership, “ a determining factor in our success at the championships ", and his " exceptional contribution to motorsport heritage » from the Star brand. 

« After 16 years at HPP, I decided that the time had come to take on a new engineering challenge, commented Cowell, whose engines have been undefeated since 2014 and the introduction of turbo V6s. I am happy to have been able to discuss with Markus and Toto to define the new management structure ». 

Wolff believes that Mercedes and its revamped HPP department are in “ a very strong position to be the reference in their field in Formula 1 and Formula e in the years to come ". In recent years, Mercedes has become accustomed to anticipating the replacement of high-ranking positions in its organization chart via an internal promotion system. This was for example the case with Aldo Costa last year. This is also the characteristic of the great stables.