Lowe departure has not led to Mercedes slump - Wolff

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Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says the German outfit's relative decline in performance this season is not linked to the departure of former tech boss Paddy Lowe.

After four years leading the Silver Arrows tech department, Lowe parted ways with Mercedes earlier this year, and returned to Williams where the British engineer started his career in F1 in 1987.

Asked by Sport Bild whether Lowe' s exit had impacted Mercedes, Wolff insisted that no one individual was bigger than the team.

Wolff rubbishes claims Mercedes will quit F1 after 2018

"Paddy is an excellent engineer for whom I have great respect," said the Austrian.

"But success in our sport is not about individual well-known personalities, but rather about having a balanced structure with the right people in the right places.

"And, in my opinion, that's what we have at Mercedes.

"It's in times like these that you realise how strong a team is and I could not be prouder of how all of them are dealing with the current situation," Wolff added.

"We have our feet on the ground, everyone is focused on solving our troubles and we are enjoying the duel with Ferrari. That is what motor sport is all about -- to compete against the best."

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Wolff also rejected any talk that, as Mercedes' dominance starts to dip, a weak link in that need to pull together as a team could be Lewis Hamilton.

"Lewis' attitude and his personal maturity have impressed me this season," he insisted.

"We had good conversations in the winter. Everyone put his cards on the table, we talked about what worked and what has not worked in recent years, and since then he has taken a strengthened management role in the team.

"I also feel that he loves this fight against Ferrari," Wolff explained.

"Lewis has a very positive influence on the team and is more motivated than I have ever seen him. Which is just as you would expect from a champion of his quality."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.