Mercedes F1 technical ‘evolution’ will see Allison step back from role

Mercedes’ James Allison is to step aside from this role as technical director as part of a succession plan aimed at focusing on Formula 1’s next era.

From 1 July, Allison will take a step back from day-to-day operations of the F1 technical department to move into a newly-created role as chief technical officer in what Mercedes has described as an “evolution of its technical leadership structure”.

Allison, who has held the technical director position since his arrival in 2017, will instead by tasked with ensuring Mercedes is ready for the “strategic challenges” of sweeping technical and sporting regulation changes coming into effect in 2022.

Mercedes will subsequently promote its current technology director Mike Elliot to the role of technical director of the F1 team.

"I firmly believe that people have a shelf life in senior roles in this sport, and I have chosen to step away from my role as Technical Director in order to pass on the baton at the right time for the organisation and myself,” Allison explained.

“I have enjoyed four and a half wonderful years as Technical Director, and it has been a special privilege to lead the technical effort of the team in that time. It is a great pleasure to be succeeded by Mike, an exceptional engineer in a tremendously strong group of senior leaders in the team.

“We will benefit from the freshness that he will bring to the role - and I hope I can continue to make a useful contribution across a new sphere of activity in my role as CTO, with a focus on increasing our capability across the board and supporting Toto with the major strategic challenges we face in the near future.”

Mercedes F1 team boss Toto Wolff praised the “enormous contribution” Allison has made in his position in helping the German manufacturer continue its unbeaten run of success in the V6 era.

“We have known for a while that his time as Technical Director would be coming to an end this year and I am delighted that we have been able to shape this new role to keep him within our motorsport family,” Wolff said.

“He will be an important sparring partner for me in the next years and I know that we still have much to achieve together. We often say that the organisation is a dynamic organism, and that we need to adapt continuously if we want to truly thrive.

“Effective succession planning has been a strength of our team, so I am delighted to announce Mike in his new role as Technical Director.”

Elliot began his F1 career at McLaren in 2000 and later worked at Renault before joining Mercedes in 2012 when he took on the role of head of aerodynamics. Since 2017, he has acted as the team’s technology director.

Elliot acknowledged he has “big shoes to fill” replacing Allison.

”It has been a great pleasure and privilege to work for James earlier in my career at Renault, and for the past four years at Mercedes,” he added.

“His track record in the sport speaks for itself, and he has been a fantastic team-mate and leader for me during that time. They are big shoes to fill and I am delighted that we will be able to call on his expertise in his new role as CTO.

“On a personal level, it is an amazing opportunity to become Technical Director of a team like Mercedes, and I must thank Toto and our company for trusting me to make the step up to this new role.

“It is an incredible privilege to be part of this team and I know that the leadership strength at every level through the company will be vital to our future success.

“I can't wait to get started and to tackle the many exciting technical challenges ahead of us in the next months and years."