Mercedes have made an important change to their technical team by bringing back their top engineer into his old hands-on role — a redeployment that could be a key factor in whether Lewis Hamilton re-signs. James Allison returns as technical director, having stepped away to take up the role of chief technical officer in 2021. Mike Elliott, who took Allison’s place, has exchanged positions with his fellow British engineer. The reshuffle is a consequence of Mercedes’ relative travails since Allison, 55, moved aside. Mercedes claim that the reshuffle is at Elliott’s request, based on his own recognition that his skill set does not lie in the post he has held.

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