O designer John Owen will leave the Mercedes Formula 1 team later this year, after direct participation in the development of nine world champion carsinformed the team this Tuesday (20).
Owen joined the Brackley-based team in 2007, when the team was still competing under the Honda name. In 2009, the structure won both season titles as Brawn GP, and Owen went on to serve as head of design at Mercedes after the German manufacturer acquired the team at the end of that year.
Since 2023, he has held the position of Director of Car Design.
Mercedes won eight consecutive constructors’ titles between 2014 and 2021. Last season, it finished runner-up, behind McLaren, which also uses Mercedes engines.
“We can confirm that John Owen has decided that now is the right time to take a break from the team and will leave the team later this year to begin a period of gardening leaveafter ensuring an adequate transition to his successor,” the team said in an official statement.
According to a Mercedes spokesperson, Owen was involved in the design of all of the team’s cars with the exception of the 1954 W196. This year’s model, the W17, will be the 17th car for which he has had overall development responsibility.
Mercedes also announced that engineering director Giacomo Tortora will take on the role of Director of Car Design, joining a group supervised by deputy technical director Simone Resta.
