Allison will be Wolff’s ‘sparring partner’ in new role

Mark Scott
James Allison Toto Wolff Mercedes

James Allison Toto Wolff Mercedes

Team boss Toto Wolff is delighted that James Allison is staying with the Mercedes family and will be his “sparring partner” in the years to come.

Allison is stepping away from his role as technical director on July 1 having been in the role for the last four years but, rather than leave the team completely, a new role has been created for him in the form of chief technical officer.

Wolff has praised Allison for the “enormous contribution” he has made at the all-conquering Mercedes team and is glad this is not a case of a final farewell.

“Since joining Mercedes in 2017, James has been an exceptional technical leader for our team, and he has made an enormous contribution to our performance,” Wolff said.

“He combines huge passion and determination with detailed expertise and exceptional moral character.

“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.

“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.”

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Allison, meanwhile, feels the time is right to move away from the very frontline, saying everyone with a senior role in Formula 1 has an expiry date.

He also praised his successor, Mike Elliott, who is moving from his role as technology director to replace him.

Allison said: “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.

“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.”

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