The success of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton is a team effort led by Merecedes’ executive director, Toto Wolff, front right. Photograph: Mark Thompson/Getty Images

Mercedes’ operational front man, filling the large boots of the former team principal Ross Brawn, whose vast contribution to this season’s double championship is too easily forgotten. The Austrian was a talented amateur driver, but he has enjoyed more success in business. He became executive director of Williams in 2012 before becoming executive director (business) at Mercedes last year with total responsibility for the motorsport project, including DTM and the Formula 3 engine programme.

The 52-year-old had a six-year spell at Williams, where he was in charge of the development of active suspension that helped Nigel Mansell win the drivers’ title in 1992. He moved to McLaren the following year and became their technical director in 2011, after playing a pivotal role in Lewis Hamilton’s championship win in 2008. He joined Mercedes last year.

The three-times world champion, with his red cap permanently in place, is the most recognisable man in the Mercedes motorhome. A free spirit and a free voice, Lauda is very much his own man, just as he was on the track when he battled against James Hunt and the rest. He is also at hand to offer advice to the drivers if they need it.

The McLaren man who is closest to the British driver on race days. “Bono” started in F1 with Jordan, working alongside Timo Glock and Giorgio Pantano. From there he went to Honda. He worked with Michael Schumacher when the seven-times world champion was at Mercedes in 2012 and became a race engineer that year. Before that he worked for the team as a data engineer.

Ross has been by the German’s side since 2011 having worked with Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Juan Pablo Montoya and Nick Heidfeld. He and Rosberg enjoyed their first success together in China in 2012. His career started at Austin Rover but he moved into racing upon joining Nissan for the Touring Car championship. Ross then joined the Renault Laguna team before moving into Formula One with Williams at the end of 1997.