© Steve Etherington for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has been saying for some time that he is interested in finding the person capable of being his successor.
One such person according to Wolff is current Mercedes Technical Director, and soon to be Chief Technical Officer, James Allison. However, Allison doesn’t want to hear it.
“I would say if you look at things, he would absolutely be capable to be the team principal,” the Austrian said.
“And also the people here, there’s so much respect [for him] within the organisation. But the thing is very easy. He said, ‘Never, ever I would do this. Team principal requires different skills.’
“And so he said, ‘No, thank you.'”
“James and I speak multiple times every single day. And we’re totally coordinated on the strategic direction of Mercedes Motorsport, and Mercedes Grand Prix.
“So much earlier than before we decided the CTO role – it must have been a year or two ago – we discussed the future of the team principal role in Mercedes.
“And he made it very clear that that was not for him. And since then, obviously I am thinking and I’m looking and I’m observing, what is happening out there, and who’s doing a good job. So finally, I can step back from this madness!”
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According to Wolff Allison is the perfect man to be the new Chief Technical Officer of the team, a position that was created for him.
“James obviously is a huge asset to the team, not only as a brilliant engineer, but also as a leader. And he has a good understanding and overview of what is happening in F1 beyond the technical space.
“He is a sparring partner of mine when it comes down to strategic discussions, political discussions, and he is getting more involved also with the other departments and racing programmes that we have.
“And that’s why it was almost a logical step to make him my technical twin brother, I’m also the head of Mercedes Motorsport. And so it makes sense to have a technical director for all motorsports programmes.
“So if you see, I’m the CEO, and he’s the CTO, and for him he enjoyed the idea. So we’ve worked on that for a year.”
Mercedes also recently announced that the team’s current technology director Mike Elliot will take Allison’s vacant technical director spot.
“On the other side, Mike Elliott, just about joined with me, he came from Renault and was the head of aero there,” continued Wolff.
“And I have had such a great relationship with him over all these years. He’s a hugely competent, intelligent and intellectual engineer, someone who has been a fundamental pillar in the team’s success and recognised from the whole organisation.
“That’s why I’m really happy that he’s become the technical director. But having said that, there we have such a solid group, that he’s one of a group that will lead the team in the future.”
