Formula 1 News: James Allison re-signs with Mercedes

James Allison has signed a long-term contract extension to remain as Technical Director, the Mercedes F1 team has announced.

The news reinforces the technical leadership of the team during a period of renewal ahead of the major rule changes for 2026.

James joined the team in 2017 as Technical Director, overseeing a prolonged period of success culminating in four Drivers’ title and five consecutive Constructors’ Championships. After a stint as Chief Technical Officer, responsible for longer term strategy and the INEOS Britannia America’s Cup project, the 55-year-old returned to a more frontline role as Technical Director in April last year.

James said: “F1 has brought me a lot of good fortune, but none greater than answering Toto’s call to join Mercedes in 2017. It is a great privilege to continue this adventure, working alongside brilliant colleagues and fighting together for championship success.”

Toto Wolff, Team Principal and CEO of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team added: “I am thrilled that James has committed his long-term future to the team. Put simply, he is the most impressive technical leader in our sport. His gladiator spirit, along with his knowledge, experience, and determination, make him second-to-none. His influence and impact, however, goes so much further than that. Since joining in 2017, he has been a key ally and sparring partner for me personally. We can challenge each other openly and honestly; an embodiment of the ‘tough love’ culture of the team that is vital in helping us all perform at our very best. Most importantly though, James is a true friend you can rely on, not only in times of success but in difficult moments too. It has been a pleasure to work with him over the past seven years and I look forward to doing so for many more to come.”

Biography

Date of Birth: 21 February 1968

James Allison is Technical Director of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team. Why did James want to work in Formula One? “It was a great alternative to growing up and getting a proper job.” With that answer, it seems inevitable that James would end up in motorsport.

His motorsport career started in 1991, when he joined the Benetton F1 Team as a Junior Aerodynamic Designer immediately after graduating from the University of Cambridge.

Just two years later, James was appointed Head of Aerodynamics for the small Larrouse F1 squad. Sadly, the cash-strapped team struggled for results and James returned to Benetton as an Aerodynamic Designer. Success soon followed though, as James celebrated Michael Schumacher’s Drivers’ Championship success in 1994, with Schumacher and Benetton claiming the Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles the following year.

James was promoted to Head of Aerodynamics in 1997 and, just two years later, swapped Enstone for Maranello and the new position of Trackside Aerodynamicist with Scuderia Ferrari, playing an important role in a period of unprecedented success, as the team won six Constructors’ Championships between 1999 and 2004.

After six years in Italy, James returned to the United Kingdom and a familiar home at Enstone, now under the Renault name, taking on the role of Deputy Technical Director. With young Spaniard Fernando Alonso at the wheel, Renault were the team to beat – taking top honors in the Constructors’ Championship in 2005 and 2006.

James was promoted to Technical Director in 2009 and remained with the team as it transitioned to Lotus Renault and later Lotus F1 Team, fighting back to the top step of the podium in 2012 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with Kimi Räikkonen scoring the team’s first win in four years.

In 2013, James headed back to Ferrari, this time as Technical Director. After a fruitless year for the team in 2014, James’ influence was crucial as Sebastian Vettel claimed three wins the following year, when the Scuderia emerged as the closest challenger to the title-winning Mercedes team. James departed Ferrari midway through the 2016 season and returned to the Formula One grid in 2017 as Technical Director of the Mercedes AMG-PETRONAS Formula One Team, playing a crucial part in taking the team to five Constructors’ Championships and four Drivers’ titles.

When asked what he loves about Formula One, here’s James’ full, non-abridged answer: “I love the fight. I love that it is grindingly, desperately difficult because that is what makes any success so meaningful. I love that nothing about it is vanilla; technology, skill, cunning, personality, humor – everything is extreme. But above all, I love the sense of shared purpose and belonging that comes from being in an F1 Team. It is not a mere job, it is a brilliant, exciting, challenging and deeply fulfilling way of life. All of us who have experienced it are deeply fortunate.”

Mid-way through 2021, James began a newly created role as Chief Technical Officer, with Mike Elliott taking on the role of Technical Director. James then returned to the role of Technical Director in April 2023.