Mercedes F1 boss Ross Brawn denies Paddy Lowe 'soft handover' plan

Lowe started work as executive director (engineering) on June 3 this year after switching from McLaren as Brawn's long term successor.

But Brawn downplayed reports that a firm plan is in place to make a 'soft handover' to Lowe in six months.

"There is no timescale," he said when asked by AUTOSPORT about the schedule for this handover.

"There will be a point in the future when some of the responsibilities I have today will be handled by Paddy but it won't be an abrupt stop and an abrupt start.

"Paddy and I have known each other for a long time and we are working on the things that he can make a real contribution towards the team [on] and he's starting to pick up some of those things.

"At some point in the future, he will take on more responsibility. It will evolve in a way that is most positive for the team.

"We won't do anything that risks the potential of the team and I imagine that within the next year, 18 months, things will evolve."

Brawn admitted that it is possible he could attend fewer races in the future as part of this process.

But he stressed that no decision has yet been made on his travel plans for next season.

"Maybe," he said when asked if he would not attend all of the races.

"It might be attractive not to do all of the races so we will see what the best approach is.

"We will do what we feel is the strongest solution for the team."