The higher you go, the harder you fall. This statement fits perfectly well for Mercedes. The team had continuously tapped into the speed gods for eight years before arriving at the zeropod concept. Even though it was expected of the Silver Arrows to learn to apologize and move on, they continued trying to beat the dead elephant. As a result, instead of challenging Adrian Newey’s wonder, they have now fallen behind Aston Martin as well.
However, to bring the team back to winning days, Toto Wolff unleashed a masterstroke, sending the F1 world into a frenzy. In answer to Adrian Newey’s alchemy, James Allison is back in his old role of Chief Technical Officer. The same role he relinquished because of “private circumstances”. Allison wanted to work three days a week, and that is when Mike Elliott stepped in. However, Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton, which couldn’t turn heads with W14, had been in panic mode, realizing that they may spend another season seeing the back of the Red Bulls on the grid.
As quoted by F1 Maximaal, Rick Winkelman stated, “But now they [Mercedes] are turning it [Allison-Elliot swap] back. Only that means that Allison has to go back to work full time and things like that, so she will also have to deal with that in her private life. That is also not a healthy situation.”
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He further highlighted the situation of mighty teams losing out to Red Bull. He said, “They are panicking at Mercedes. They are panicking at Ferrari, but also at Mercedes. It was said of Mike Elliott, and it is said again now, that he is not so good at doing things very quickly, as at improvising, being able to do something different every day. That is something Allison can do very well.”
Overcoming personal challenges, Allison may now really bring the fight to Milton Keynes. Does it mean Lewis can make a go for his eighth title?
Red Bull’s nightmare stares at them as hopes grow for Lewis Hamilton and co.
James Allison is a genius. The cars he has helped design have won championships at mighty teams. He was there when Michael Schumacher helped make Ferrari great again. He was even around when Lewis Hamilton was scripting history with Mercedes. Now, seeing the man back in a more involved full-time role, the new dawn is probably here for the German team.
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Renger van der Zande stated, “Allison really is a hero, that’s a kind of Newey. Then if you can compare Newey to anyone, name Allison. Achieved great successes at Ferrari. In his private life, he has experienced something terrible, which made him sit in the back seat for a while.”
This homecoming may see Lewis Hamilton become an eight-time champion and create history. But for now, let us just sit back and watch what the team has in store for us.
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Do you think the man who oversaw the win of Silver Arrows’ last championship will bring about a change? Let us know in the comments below.