Mercedes confirm John Owen departure

By Lavesh Pillay

Mercedes have confirmed that John Owen, their long-standing Director of Car Design, will depart the team later this year, bringing an end to one of the most influential technical tenures in modern Formula 1 history.

Owen has been a cornerstone of the Brackley operation since 2007, joining the team during its Honda era. He remained in place through its dramatic transformation into Brawn GP, playing a vital role in the fairy-tale 2009 season that saw the team claim both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships.

When the outfit re-emerged as Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team in 2010, Owen’s influence only grew. Across the following decade, Mercedes rewrote the record books with eight consecutive Constructors’ Championships and seven Drivers’ titles, establishing one of the most dominant eras the sport has ever seen.

A defining figure in Mercedes’ golden era

In a statement released by the team, Mercedes confirmed that Owen has chosen to step away from Formula 1 and will begin a period of gardening leave later this year, following a structured handover 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 nine 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.”

Few figures in the paddock can point to such continuity and influence. From ground-effect dominance to regulation resets, Owen’s fingerprints have been on nearly every championship-winning Mercedes car.

Internal promotion signals continuity

Mercedes have opted for stability rather than disruption, confirming that Owen’s role will be filled internally. Giacomo Tortora, currently the team’s Engineering Director, will step up as the new Director of Car Design, while Simone Resta, Deputy Technical Director, will take responsibility for overseeing the wider design group.

The move suggests Mercedes are keen to preserve institutional knowledge as the sport prepares for the sweeping 2026 regulation changes, widely viewed as the next major technical reset in Formula 1.

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