James Allison (motorsport)

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For other people named James Allison, see James Allison (disambiguation).

James Allison
James Allison in 2018.jpg
Allison in 2018
Born (1968-02-21) 21 February 1968 (age 53)
Louth, Lincolnshire, England[1]
NationalityUnited Kingdom British
CitizenshipBritish
EducationAerospace engineer
Alma materUniversity of Cambridge
OccupationFormula One Chief Technical Officer, Engineer, Aerodynamicist
Years active1991–present
EmployerMercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport
Known forF1 car designer
PredecessorPaddy Lowe
Spouse(s)
Rebecca
​
​
(m. 1992; died 2016)​
Children3

James Allison (born 21 February 1968)[2] is an English motorsport designer and engineer, best known for his accomplishments in Formula 1, where he is the chief technical officer of Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team from July 2021.

Early life[]

Born in Louth, Lincolnshire,[2] the son of former Royal Air Force officer, Air Chief Marshal Sir John Allison, James was educated at Abingdon School and Cambridge.[3]

Career[]

Benetton, Larrousse, and Ferrari: 1991–2005[]

After graduating from Cambridge in 1991, Allison joined the aerodynamics department of the Benetton Formula One team.[4] After a couple of years at Benetton he moved to Larrousse as head of aerodynamics[4] before returning to Benetton as head of aerodynamics in the mid-1990s.[4] In 2000, he moved to Ferrari for five years.

Renault/Lotus: 2005–2013[]

Allison returned to Benetton (by then known as Renault F1) in the role of deputy technical director in 2005.[3] In 2009 Allison became technical director.[4] In 2011, Renault F1 became Lotus Renault GP, before becoming Lotus F1 in 2012.

Return to Ferrari: 2013–2016[]

Allison (left) with Pat Fry in 2014

On 8 May 2013, Allison quit as Lotus F1 Team technical director to be replaced by Nick Chester.[5] On 29 July 2013, Allison rejoined Ferrari as chassis technical director and then technical director until July 2016.[1][6] On 27 July 2016, Allison quit as Scuderia Ferrari technical director following the death of his wife.[7]

Mercedes AMG: 2017–2021[]

On 16 February 2017 Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport announced that Allison was to join the team in the newly created role of technical director, following the departure of Paddy Lowe to Williams Grand Prix Engineering.[8]

Mercedes AMG & INEOS Britannia: 2021-present[]

In April 2021 Allison became Chief Technical Officer of Mercedes AMG.[9]

On 4 October 2021, it was announced that Allison would take on a new Chief Technical Officer role at Ineos Team UK Britannia America's Cup Team. This new role will position Allison as technical lead of Ben Ainslie's campaign for the 37th America's Cup, with Mercedes-AMG F1 Applied Science partnering with their existing sailing and design teams, which include Ainslie, Giles Scott, and prominent naval architect and yacht designer Martin Fischer. [10]

Formula One championships[]

Allison-designed cars have won the following Formula One World Constructors' Championships:

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "James Allison". Mercedes AMG. Mercedes-Benz. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b Hughes, Mark (16 February 2017). "How Allison differs from Lowe". Motor Sport. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  3. ^ a b "People: James Allison". GrandPrix.com. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d "Lotus F1 Team::James Allison". Lotus F1 Team. Archived from the original on 28 January 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  5. ^ "Allison quits Lotus". EatSleepSport. 8 May 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  6. ^ "Ferrari: James Allison leaves role as technical director". BBC Sport.
  7. ^ "James Allison leaves Ferrari". Sky Sports.
  8. ^ "Allison to join Mercedes as technical chief".
  9. ^ "Mercedes announce new Technical Director as James Allison steps back from day-to-day role". www.formula1.com. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  10. ^ "INEOS Britannia launch world-class team to challenge for 37th America's Cup". www.ineosbritannia.com. 4 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
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