Michael Schumacher has paid tribute to Norbet Haug, the departing head of Mercedes-Benz motorsport.
Haug has held the position for 22 years and has overseen Mercedes' role in a number different classes of motorsport and spearheaded their return to Formula One as a Constructor in 2010.
However, Haug will be leaving his post when his contract expires at the end of the year "by mutual agreement".
Schumacher's relationship with Haug dates back a lot further than their recent partnership at Mercedes, with the German having raced Mercedes sportscars before entering F1.
The former World Champion took to his official website to express his appreciation for Haug's impact.
"Since I entered professional motorsport, Mercedes and Norbert Haug together were part of it, so this step will mark a big break," said Schumacher.
"We spend a lot of years together, being sporting combatants or allies, and Norbert has always been into this with full enthusiasm and wholeheartedly.
"He was living motorsports, and him leaving will tear a massive hole in both our sport and our team."
