Costa and Ellis to leave in Mercedes shake-up

Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes are braced for a significant shake-up of their technical team after it was announced that two key figures are leaving.

Engineering director Aldo Costa, who has been integral in the design of Hamilton’s dominant Mercedes car in recent years, and performance director Mark Ellis, are set to call time on their roles at the end of the year.

Costa, 57, who joined Mercedes from Ferrari in 2011, will become a technical adviser to spend more time with his family in Italy.

Ellis, 54, formerly of Red Bull when they won four consecutive drivers’ and constructors’ championship, has retired from his post ahead of a sabbatical in 2019.

Chief designer John Owen becomes the senior member of the group and will report to technical director James Allison. Loic Serra will be promoted to performance director next year.

“This is a significant moment for our team and a great opportunity,” said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.

“We have said many times that you cannot freeze a successful organisation.

“It is a dynamic structure and I am proud that we are able to hand the baton smoothly to the next generation of leaders inside the team.

“We have been in discussion for many months with both Mark and Aldo about how best to implement this transition and to empower their successors.

“Mark and Aldo have both helped to shape the timing and manner of these changes, and the team’s future is very bright with John, Loic and our entire technical leadership working under James’ direction.”

Mercedes have won the past four drivers’ and team titles, but are behind in both championships this year.

Hamilton will head to Mercedes’ home race in Germany a week on Sunday eight points adrift of Sebastian Vettel, while Mercedes are 20 points behind Ferrari in the constructors’ championship.