Mercedes Technical Director James Allison has downplayed the recent exits from the team in Formula 1 amid rumours it has now split with its Chief Aerodynamicist.
The pair’s collective departure to begin work at Maranello in October comes amid Lewis Hamilton’s decision to leave for Ferrari in 2025 and Mercedes’ on-track woes.
Reports now suggest that Gioacchino Vino, who had been with the team since 2018, has become the next notable name to vacate his role within the Mercedes setup.
However, Allison insists that such turnover under the cost cap regulations is natural and will be occurring across all the incumbent teams up and down the F1 pit lane.
When asked about the wholesale changes happening within the organisation, Allison said: “I think it’s more in the normal ebb and flow of an F1 team.
“The teams are big these days and in any given year you are shipping out a whole bunch of people and shipping in a matching number. That will be true in nearly every team.
Allison, who returned to his current role last term as Mike Elliott resigned, has denied there is a problem with the environment at Mercedes contributing to these exits.
The British engineer also concurred with recent comments from Mercedes boss Toto Wolff as he revealed that the squad is also welcoming recruits from rival teams.
“I don’t think there’s any point in me offering a commentary on motivation,” Allison added.
“Clearly a team needs to have a critical mass of experienced and good people and we would not wish to see experienced good people leave us but we also are gathering experienced and good people at a similar rate so I guess it’s our job to try and make sure we act in such a way as everybody would rather be with us than anywhere else.”
Vino had arrived at Mercedes as its Principal Aerodynamicist before being promoted to a more senior position in October 2022 under the current ground effect ruleset.
