APRIL 27, 2005

Mercedes-Benz confirms Markus Duesmann

As we exclusively reported, there is to be a new technical boss at Mercedes-Ilmor with the confirmation from Stuttgart that Markus Duesmann will become engineering director at Mercedes Ilmor from May 1. Duesmann (35) joins Ilmor from his position as senior manager of new diesel engine projects and in his new role will have responsibility for engine design, materials, development, simulation and advanced engine developments at Brixworth.

The company has also confirmed that Mario Illien's contract terminates at the end of this year and at the moment there is no decision as to his future. The Ilmor buy-out will be completed by September and Illien will remain as technical director until the end of the year. Neither party has made a decision about the future although Mercedes says that they intend to do so before the end of the F1 season.