MERCEDES DEVELOPES THE TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT – Auto Action

Dan Knutson

Date Posted: April 10, 2021

The Mercedes F1 team is making changes to its technical department. Technical Director James Allison will assume a newly created role as Chief Technical Officer (CTO). Mike Elliott, currently director of technology, is promoted to director of technology. The change will take place on July 1st.

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has always said that he is concerned about the team’s personnel structure becoming static and stale, but at the same time he wants to keep the right people in the right jobs. This latest staff update addresses both issues.

“Since joining Mercedes in 2017, James has been an exceptional technical leader for our team,” said Wolff. “He made a tremendous contribution to our performance: He combines great passion and determination with detailed expertise and an exceptional moral character.

“We often say that the organization is a dynamic organism and that we must continually adapt if we are to really thrive. Effective succession planning has been a strength of our team, so I’m excited to announce Mike in his new role as Technical Director. We met in early 2013 when I joined the team and have since spent many hours talking about the team and how it was developing. “

Allison began his F1 career at Benetton in 1991 as a junior aerodynamicist, spent 1992 at Larrousse and returned to Benetton in 1993. He was on the team when Michael Schumacher won consecutive world championships in 1994 and 1995. Allison had several stints at Renault and Ferrari before moving to Mercedes in 2017.

As CTO, Allison will step down from the day-to-day management of F1 technical operations and focus on helping the team meet the strategic challenges of the sport’s next era.

“I firmly believe that people in leadership positions in this sport have durability,” said Allison, “and I made a decision to step down from my role as technical director in order to organize and pass the baton at the right time.” myself.

“It is a great pleasure to be replaced by Mike, an exceptional engineer in a tremendously strong group of senior executives on the team. We will benefit from the freshness he will bring to the role and I hope that in my role as CTO I can continue to make a useful contribution in a new area of ​​activity with an emphasis on improving our skills across the board and to support Toto with the great strategic challenges that we will face in the near future. “

When asked what he loves about Formula One, Allison replied, “I love the fight. I think it’s great that it’s arduous and desperately difficult, because that’s what makes every success so meaningful. I love that there is nothing vanilla about it; Technology, skill, cunning, personality, humor – everything is extreme.

“Most of all, I love the sense of shared purpose and belonging that comes from being on an F1 team. It’s not just a job, it’s a brilliant, exciting, challenging, and deeply fulfilling way of life. All of us who have seen it are very lucky. “

Mercedes develops technical department – Image: Motorsport Images

Elliot’s F1 career began in 2000 as an aerodynamicist at McLaren. He also spent a year at Renault before moving to Mercedes in 2012.

“It has been a great pleasure and privilege to work for James earlier in my career at Renault,” said Elliot, “and for the past four years with Mercedes. His track record in sports speaks for itself and he has been a fantastic teammate and leader for me during that time.

“They are big shoes that have to be filled, and I am delighted that we can fall back on his expertise in his new role as CTO. On a personal level, becoming the technical director of a team like Mercedes is an amazing opportunity.

“I know that leadership at all levels of the company is critical to our future success. I can’t wait to get started and master the many exciting technical challenges that lie ahead of us over the next few months and years. “

When asked what his favorite memory of Mercedes was so far, Elliot replied, “Collect the constructors trophy on behalf of the team. It is a humbling and emotional experience to collect an award that so many people have sweated in blood and tears for. “

BIOGRAPHIES

James Allison, technical director

Nationality: British
Date of birth: February 21, 1968
Place of birth: Louth, Lincolnshire, UK
2021 Technical Director of the Formula 1 team at Mercedes-AMG Petronas
2017 Technical Director of the Formula 1 team at Mercedes-AMG Petronas
2013 Technical Director, Scuderia Ferrari
2009 Technical Director, Renault F1 Team
2005 Deputy Technical Director, Renault F1 Team
1999 Trackside aerodynamicist, Scuderia Ferrari
1997 Head of Aerodynamics, Benetton F1
1996 Head of Aerodynamic Design, Benetton F1
1994 Aerodynamic Designer, Benetton F1
1992 Head of Aerodynamics, Larrousse UK
1991 Junior Aerodynamic Engineer, Benetton F1

Mike Elliott, technical director

Nationality: British
Date of birth: June 4, 1974
Place of birth: St Austell, UK
2021 Technical Director of the Formula 1 team at Mercedes-AMG Petronas
2017 Technology Director of the Formula 1 team at Mercedes-AMG Petronas
2012 Head of Aerodynamics, Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team
2008 Chief Aerodynamicist, Renault F1 Team
2006 Team Leader, Aerodynamic Performance, McLaren F1 Team
2003 Trackside Aerodynamicist, McLaren F1 Team
2000 aerodynamicist, McLaren F1 Team

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