Mercedes restructures technical team

Mercedes AMG has begun to restructure its technical team. Italian magazine 'Autosprint' reports that the team's chief of aerodynamics, John Owen, will be promoted from his current position to become the technical director.

Along with the promotion of John Owen, 'Autosprint' has learned that Mike Elliot, who has just joined the team after leaving Lotus will fill Owen's old position.

While this may all seem like natural progress, it does create questions as to what will happen with the current technical leaders at Mercedes, including Aldo Costa, Geoff Willis and Bob Bell. All three are highly respected and have also only joined Mercedes in 2011. Aldo Costa was picked up after leaving Ferrari, Geoff Willis came from HRT after a 2-year spell at Red Bull Racing and Bob Bell left Renault as Managing Director.

It is unclear if the men are going to be retained at Mercedes, it is also possible the Mercedes is looking to reduce F1 costs and may seek to create a leaner organizational structure.