Mercedes Announces 45-Year-Old As New Deputy Team Principal Before 2026 Japanese GP
The Mercedes deputy team principal, Bradley Lord, was announced on Friday, March 20th, 2026, marking one of the most significant behind-the-scenes changes the team has made in recent years. Lord didn't just walk into this job; he's been doing it for years. Since joining Mercedes back in 2013 as their communications manager, he quietly climbed the ladder, taking on more and more until he became the team's chief communications officer and the man who stepped in for boss Toto Wolff whenever Wolff couldn't be there. In other words, this promotion isn't a surprise; it's long overdue. Mercedes has decided to make official what everyone in the paddock already knew.
The new role places Lord directly alongside Wolff at the very top of the team's leadership structure. Wolff was clear that his own position and day-to-day responsibilities are not changing, describing the move as a way to better spread the workload across the senior team rather than a power shift at the top. As Formula 1 continues to grow as a global sport, with more races, more commercial partnerships, and more media demands than ever before, Wolff acknowledged that the senior leadership group simply needed more firepower to keep up. The move formalizes what Wolff described as effectively operating in practice for some time.
This gives Lord a platform that could reshape how the team handles its biggest challenges in the years ahead. With Formula 1 expanding into new markets, adding more races to the calendar, and facing increasingly complex relationships with the FIA and rival teams, having someone of Lord's skillset at the very top of the decision-making chain could prove to be a masterstroke from Wolff. Unlike a technical deputy who focuses on what happens on the track, Lord's strength lies in the boardroom, the media room, and the political corridors of the paddock, areas that are becoming increasingly important in the modern era of Formula 1. With Mercedes already facing scrutiny from rivals and the FIA in 2026, having a sharp and experienced voice in Lord steering those conversations could turn out to be one of the smartest and strongest moves the team makes all season.
With the Mercedes deputy team principal announcement coming just days before the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka, Lord's first race in the role is just around the corner. Wolff praised Lord as someone who has played a key part in making Mercedes the most successful team of the modern era. The new structure would allow the leadership group to focus on the areas where each person can add the most value. For a team already leading the 2026 championship charge, with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli both competitive at the front of the grid, having a strong and clearly defined leadership team off the track could prove just as important as the pace they are showing on it.
