Mercedes has updated its Formula 1 team’s leadership structure by appointing Bradley Lord as deputy team principal.

Lord was previously Mercedes’ official team representative, which was added to his duties as chief communications officer and reflected an increased responsibility taking on formal media sessions and broadcast interviews.

He will now be CEO and team principal Toto Wolff’s direct number two, which Mercedes says helps distribute responsibilities efficiently across its senior leadership.

Lord, who can often be seen next to Wolff in Mercedes’ garage on race weekends, has been a member of a small group Wolff’s has leaned on for several years.

This previously included the likes of James Vowles, now Williams team principal, and Jerome D’Ambrosio, now Ferrari deputy team principal.

Wolff said his own role and responsibilities “will not change one millimetre” but the growth of F1 and Mercedes’ own team meant “the scope of our operations and associated responsibilities at a senior level has grown significantly”.

“We have therefore taken this opportunity to put in place a change that has effectively been operating in practice for some time,” Wolff said.

“Bradley is a dedicated and long-serving member of our organisation who has played an important part in the team becoming the most successful of the modern era.

“Aligning our structure in this way ensures our leadership group can focus fully on the areas where they can add the greatest value and is optimised to meet the demands of a rapidly growing sport.”