P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes announce F1 chief exit ahead of 2026 championship
Mercedes F1 team recently announced that their director of car design, John Owen, will be leaving the team after almost twenty years with the Brackley squad, having joined in 2007 during their time as Honda Racing and Brawn GP before becoming Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team. With nine constructors’ titles to his credit, including one with Brawn and eight with Mercedes, Owen’s final project, the W17 for the 2026 F1 season, will mark his 17th car design for the team. The 52-year-old will hand over his responsibilities to Giacomo Tortora, the current engineering director, as the new director of car design, with Simone Resta, the deputy technical director, overseeing this division. Owen will assist in the transition to his successor during the 2026 season before taking a sabbatical. Beginning his career at Reynard and later moving to Sauber and Honda, Owen was instrumental in the success of Mercedes during the hybrid era, serving as chief designer and contributing to Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg’s championship wins. Following the announcement of his departure, Mercedes expressed gratitude for Owen’s significant role in the team’s achievements and wished him success in his future endeavors. Owen decided that now is the appropriate time to step back from F1, although details about his next career move have not been disclosed.
