Haug Receives 30 Percent Pay Cut from Mercedes

Mercedes' motorsport director Norbert Haug revealed that he has a 30 percent lower salary compared to the 2008 season. Earlier this year, Renault boss Flavio Briatore announced a similar move on his account in order to secure his team's financial state ahead of a very difficult F1 campaign.

As far as Briatore goes, the Italian will therefore earn 20% less in 2009 than he did last year, with every other Renault F1 employee in a top management position doing the same. Engineers at Enstone have also underwent a 10% pay cut, while team's mechanics and other members will earn approximately 5% less as compared to last year.

As confirmed by Haug, Mercedes has so far saved up to 30% on their F1 operations for 2009, and thinks it's only natural he should do the same. However, he did not mention whether the pay cut was imposed to all members of the Woking based team – with percentages differing from employee to employee, depending on their position – or just him.

“I am making over 30 per cent less than in 2008, with more work to do and twice the motivation,” revealed Haug, as reported by GMM news agency.

Haug's 30 percent pay cut speaks for itself in terms of how Mercedes is coping with the global economic crisis this year. As a matter of fact, the German car maker is presumably on its way to leaving the sport at the end of the season, while planning to continue their F1 programme only as engine suppliers.

Nevertheless, those allegations have never received an obvious confirmation from the Daimler officials (Mercedes' parent company) until the present day.