Mike Elliott, who served as Chief Technical Officer (CTO) at Mercedes for 11 years, has parted ways with the team. Elliott had transitioned into the CTO role six months ago, exchanging positions with James Allison, who is now the Technical Director.
This decision marks the end of Elliott's 23-year career in Formula 1, which began in 2000 when he joined as an aerodynamicist with Renault. Over the years, he held various key positions within the team, progressing from aero specialist to technology director, Technical Director, and finally CTO in April.
In his statement, Elliott expressed his gratitude for his time at Mercedes, saying, "It has been one of the great privileges of my career to be part of this Mercedes team. 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."
He went on to mention that despite the team's challenges in the last two seasons, it pushed them to reevaluate their approach to performance. Elliott revealed his decision to take a break and contemplate his next move after working tirelessly in the sport for 23 years.
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff praised Elliott's contributions to the team, acknowledging his technical expertise and his role in shaping the team's culture. Wolff acknowledged that while it's tough to bid farewell to a key team member, Elliott's readiness for new challenges beyond Mercedes led to this decision.
As of now, Mercedes is in second place in the Constructors' Championship, trailing Red Bull by 360 points as they approach the Brazilian Grand Prix.
(With Agency Inputs)
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