Mercedes F1 team reportedly want to axe legendary team boss Ross Brawn.

Brawn is one of the most successful designers in the sport’s history winning over 14 world titles with Michael Schumacher at Benetton and Ferrari.

Formula 1 reverberated to the shock news only a day after the Brackley operation reported the hiring of former Williams boss Toto Wolff.

The BBC reported Brawn could be replaced by McLaren’s current technical director, Paddy Lowe but this has not yet been confirmed.

McLaren has refused to comment and Lowe, 51, is likely to spend some months on gardening leave before joining one of their biggest rivals if a deal has been done.

Paddy Lowe: Could he be joining the Mercedes revolution?

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Nick Fry, part of the group that made Jenson Button world champion in Mercedes’ former guise as the Brawn Formula 1 team, is also a reported victim of the latest moves to increase the competitiveness of Lewis Hamilton’s new team.

One source says Lowe has agreed a deal but not yet put pen to paper.