Mercedes’ Director of Car Design John Owen to leave team

Mercedes have announced that John Owen, their long-standing Director of Car Design, will leave the team later this year.

Owen has been with the Brackley-based outfit since 2007 – when they were still under the Honda name – and remained onboard through their subsequent guise as Brawn GP, when the squad memorably clinched both the Drivers’ and Teams’ Championship in 2009.

The team then became Mercedes in 2010 and went on to score a record-breaking eight consecutive teams’ titles as well as seven drivers’ crowns in the years that followed – and the Silver Arrows have credited Owen with playing a key role in this success.

A statement from the outfit reads: “We can confirm that John Owen, our Director of Car Design, has decided that now is the right time to take a break from F1 and that he will be leaving the team later this year to begin a period of gardening leave, after assuring the transition to his successor.

“John has been with our Brackley team since 2007 and played a considerable role in our success. He has been a key part of 9 Constructors' Championships across the time he has worked here and this year's W17 marks the 17th car for which he has had overall design responsibility.

“We wish John all the very best for the future and thank him for the considerable role he has played in the team's success.”

Mercedes went on to confirm that Owen’s role will be filled by internal promotion, with Giacomo Tortora – who currently acts as Engineering Director – set to become the squad's new Director of Car Design, while Deputy Technical Director Simone Resta will oversee the group.

The Silver Arrows are set to reveal renders of their 2026 car, the W17, on January 22, before going on to hold a digital launch show on February 2.