Photo: Race Pictures

Experienced Mercedes chief leaves team to take a break from Formula 1

11:18, 20 Jan

byKada Sarkozi

Mercedes' Director of Car Design, John Owen, has decided to take a break from Formula 1, and as a result will leave the team during the later part of the 2026 season.

Owen has two and a half decades of experience in the sport. He began working for Sauber in 2001 as an Aerodynamicist, and stayed with the team until 2007.

That year, he joined the Brackley-based team as a Principal Aerodynamicist when it was still called Honda. He held the same role during Brawn GP’s title-winning 2009 campaign.

John Owen - Photo: Mercedes-AMG F1 team

The team became Mercedes in 2010, when Owen became a Chief Designer. He was appointed as Director of Car design in 2023.

He will leave Mercedes later in 2026 and will then begin a period of gardening leave.

Owen will be replaced internally by Giacomo Tortora as the team's Director of Car Design. Deputy Technical Director Simone Resta will oversee this group of the organization.

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