Mercedes Chief Technical Officer Mike Elliott had bid farewell to the Formula 1 team to begin the next chapter in his career beyond the Brackely squad.
Elliott joined Mercedes in 2012 as the outfit’s head of aerodynamics - after spells in the aero departments of McLaren and Lotus/Renault - and has made significant contributions to the team’s outstanding success in F1 in the last eleven years.
Earlier this year, Elliott moved into the role of Chief Technical Officer following a job swap with James Allison to lead the team’s technical strategy and engineering capability while establishing its foundation for the future.
“Mike has been one of the pillars of the team’s achievements over the past decade, and it’s with truly mixed feelings that we say goodbye to him today,” explained Mercedes team boss and co-owner Toto Wolff.
“Mike is a fiercely intelligent technical brain and a great team-player; he has made a strong contribution not just to winning racing cars but also to building the culture of our team.
“But on the other side, it’s clear that he’s ready for new adventures beyond Mercedes – so I know this is the right step for him to take, too.
“He leaves the team today with our thanks for the effort, commitment, and expertise he has brought to the team over the past 11 years – and our very best wishes for the future.”
Elliott announced his departure to Mercedes personnel in Brackley on Monday evening and will now take a break from the sport before deciding his next career move.
“It has been one of the great privileges of my career to be part of this Mercedes team,” he explained.
“During my time, I have seen it grow from a group of people pulling together to win races, then a first championship, to winning a record eight consecutive Constructors Championships. – and I am proud to have made my contribution to that journey.
©Mercedes
“Although the last two seasons have not seen us winning races in the manner we aspire to, they have tested us in many other ways – and forced us to question our fundamental assumptions about how we deliver performance.
“During the past six months, I have enjoyed developing the technical strategy that we hope can provide the foundations of the team’s next cycle of success.
“I have decided that now is the right time to make my next step beyond Mercedes – first to pause and take stock, after 23 years of working flat-out in this sport, and then to find my next challenge.
“I would like to thank my team-mates for a fantastic 12 seasons together and wish them every success for the years to come.”
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