“It’s just different personalities and a different management structure,” Toto Wolff justifies abrupt change in team order

The rearrangement saw Mike Elliot and James Allison swap roles, amid speculation of disruption within the team

“It’s just different personalities and a different management structure,” Toto Wolff justifies abrupt change in team order

Toto Wolff, via the Hindu

The order at the Mercedes F1 team has been shuffled, with Chief Technical Officer James Allison swapping roles with Mike Elliot, technical director. This reshuffling of roles can be perceived as a hint of disruption within the team, with this switch being implemented just a week prior to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

When inquired about the swap by Motorsport.com, team principal Toto Wolff said, “We have reversed the roles. Mike has moved up to CTO, as he has a brilliant switched-on scientific mind. And James Allison has returned to his technical director position, reporting into Mike.” According to Wolff, Elliott thought that Allison was more suitable for the role of technical director, which involves more direct involvement with the car, and it would be beneficial for him to concentrate on broader technical advancements within the organization that align with his own strengths.

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While Allison’s previous role as CTO demanded he only worked three days per week, given his part-time role in the America Cup as a part of the team’s partnership with INEOS, Elliott will be committed full-time. Despite all this, a change of this magnitude coming after just three races could imply something wrong in the team’s earlier hierarchy, which impacted their performance on track thus far.

Related:Mercedes reveals reason behind George Russell’s Melbourne retirement, gives a worrying update about his power unit

Mercedes have struggled to adapt to the new regulations since 2022

Mercedes' reliability issues, via PlanetF1
Mercedes’ reliability issues, via PlanetF1

Accustomed to supremacy and dominance, Mercedes are a team that ranks among the greatest ever to grace the pinnacle of motorsport. Ever since its inception in 2010, the team has shown a steady incline. Led by Sir Lewis Hamilton, they dominated the sphere of Formula One between 2014 and 2021. They were crowned Constructors’ Champions eight years running and blew the rest of their opponents out of the water.

However, after the introduction of new regulations in 2022, the team have struggled to cope with the rest of their rivals, namely Ferrari and Red Bull. They endured a dismal season in 2022, finishing third. This is their worst finish since 2012. The team aimed to bounce back in 2023, but thus far, this is not the case.

The Brackley-based team made their resolve clear at the start of the season, their main goal being to become frontrunners on the grid and favourites to win the championship once again. On the contrary, the team looked poor throughout Winter testing and was subject to a poor start, courtesy of reliability issues and a general lack of pace. Their competitors Red Bull and Aston Martin look drastically quicker. Toto Wolff also admitted that they got their car design wrong, leading to introspection and a desire to rectify their shortcomings.

The German team has accumulated 56 points after three races this year and has shown a steady improvement ever since their poor result at the season premiere. They looked far more competitive at their recent race in Melbourne, and have made their intent to be back at the top known. They are expecting a big upgrade at Baku, but amid all these improvements, a radical change in hierarchical roles seems to imply that something is still not right within the team’s core and current performance.

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