Mercedes yet to fill Lauda’s old role

Lauda and Ecclestone

(GMM) Mercedes is yet to fill Niki Lauda's old role.

Lauda, the F1 legend and triple world champion, was also the co-owner and chairman of the team's supervisory board.

His long-time friend Bernie Ecclestone said Mercedes will struggle without the 70-year-old, who died just over two weeks ago.

"Niki always convinced the bosses why Formula 1 is so important," Ecclestone, 88, told Auto Bild.

"They listened to him and always gave him the money that was needed to succeed."

Following Lauda's death, a story emerged that said Mercedes parent Daimler was committed to F1 at least until 2025.

But the fact remains that no team has yet agreed a new Concorde Agreement with Liberty Media beyond next year.

A Daimler spokesman said: "Formula 1 is an important building block in the strategy of Mercedes-Benz.

"It is our largest global marketing platform, a test laboratory for the research and development of future technologies, and a demonstration of the values and culture that makes Mercedes-Benz the company it is today."

However, a replacement for Lauda is yet to be named.

"We lost a friend, a mentor and a guiding star of the team, which he helped to shape," the spokesman said.

"In due course, we will take the necessary measures to appoint a new chairman of the supervisory board. But Niki is simply irreplaceable."