Niki Lauda feels "very sad" about Ross Brawn's Mercedes exit

Mercedes non-executive director Niki Lauda has expressed his sadness at team principal Ross Brawn's decision to step down.

The Formula 1 team announced last Thursday that the 59-year-old will leave his post at the end of the year.

"I'm very sad about it because I wanted him to stay another year, but he says he wants to go fishing," BBC Sport quotes Lauda as saying.

"So I really tried hard but he stays a consultant to me which I think is very good and important."

Business executive director Toto Wolff and technical executive director Paddy Lowe will take on Brawn's responsibilities when he leaves.