Mercedes "hired James Allison as technical director," just weeks before the start of the Formula 1 season, according to Rebecca Clancy of the LONDON TIMES. The former Ferrari technical director had been "widely tipped to join the Brackley-based team" after the departure of Paddy Lowe to Williams. Allison left Ferrari last July so that he could "spend time back in England with his three children after the sudden death of his wife Rebecca." A "well-respected" figure in the paddock, Allison previously held senior roles at Renault and Ferrari, winning world championships with both (LONDON TIMES, 2/16). The BBC reported Allison will report to Mercedes Motorsport Dir Toto Wolff, who said, "It wasn't an easy task to find the right personality who can strengthen our experienced group of engineers, give our talented young team members the space to develop and also bring his own vision to this role" (BBC, 2/16). In London, Giles Richards reported Allison will head a technical group which includes Engineering Dir Aldo Costa, the former Ferrari technical director, and Technical Dir Geoff Willis, formerly of Red Bull (GUARDIAN, 2/16).
