The Mercedes Formula 1 team has endured a number of difficult seasons – since the introduction of new technical regulations in 2022, the Brackley-based team has slipped down the pecking order.
Before the rules change, Mercedes was a formidable force at the top of the standings, winning championships every year from 2014 to 2021.
In addition to falling down the competitive ladder, Mercedes has also had to deal with several significant losses.
But who are the most prominent employees who left the team, and where are they now?
Andy Coyle
Even though Coyle's exit came before 2022, he still has enough importance to put him on this list. Cowell served as Managing Director at Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains (HPP) and played a vital role in the successful power unit launched in 2014. After leaving the company in early 2021, Cowell is yet to be linked to another Formula 1 project. .
Mike Elliott
Elliott rose through the engineering ranks at Mercedes after joining in 2012 and found himself in the role of technical director midway through the 2021 season. With Mercedes struggling with form at the turn of the regulations, he moved into the technical director role last year in a reshuffle before leaving the team entirely at the end of the season.
Ben Hodgkinson
Hodgkinson was a long-term employee at Mercedes, having worked in the HPP division for more than 20 years. His last position was Head of Mechanical Engineering before moving to Red Bull Powertrains as Technical Director.
Eric Blandin
After stints at Red Bull and Ferrari, Blandin joined Mercedes in 2011 and became chief aerodynamics engineer in 2017. In the middle of Mercedes' conflict-filled 2022 campaign, Blandin left to join Aston Martin as deputy technical director – a position in which He's still going at it. Per day.
James Fowles
Vowles spent much of his career at Brackley, starting with the BAR team and eventually moving to Mercedes. Vowles last served as Director of Motorsport Strategy before joining Williams last year as Team Director, where he oversaw the day-to-day operations of the Grove-based team.
Lewis Hamilton
It was probably the biggest shock of all. Before the start of the 2024 season, Hamilton, who turned Mercedes into something of a family during his years of unparalleled success with the team, announced that he would leave the team at the end of the season. The Briton will join Ferrari and Charles Leclerc in 2025 in pursuit of a new challenge.
Loic Serra
Hamilton will be joined at Ferrari by Mercedes Performance Director Serra. The Frenchman has been an integral part of the Mercedes team over the past 14 years – and RacingNews365 understands Hamilton's decision to join Ferrari was heavily influenced by the Italian team's pursuit of Serra.
Jerome D'Ambrosio
D'Ambrosio, a former Formula 1 driver, has not been present in the Mercedes organization for long. In his role as Director of Driver Development, Toto Wolff has completed 20 Grand Prix appearances as Team Principal in two races during 2023 – however, from 2025, he will take on the position of Deputy Team Principal at Ferrari.
Gioacchino Fino
Mercedes' latest exit at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix has been confirmed. Fino has served as the team's lead aerodynamicist since October 2022. The Italian will take a six-month gardening sabbatical before becoming eligible to take on another role in Formula 1.
