Mercedes chief designer John Owen will leave the team later this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 52-year-old has been part of the organisation since 2007, when it competed under the Honda name, and played a key role in its championship successes as Brawn GP in 2009 and as Mercedes from 2010 onwards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During his tenure, the team won both the drivers\u2019 and constructors\u2019 titles as Brawn, followed by seven drivers\u2019 championships and eight constructors\u2019 championships as Mercedes between 2014 and 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a statement, Mercedes said Owen would depart \u201cafter ensuring a smooth transition to his successor\u201d and would then enter a period of gardening leave. No details were given regarding his next career move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Engineering director Giacomo Tortora will take over as director of car design, reporting to deputy technical director Simone Resta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before joining Honda, Owen worked at Swiss-based Sauber, where he became senior aerodynamicist in 2004. He began his career at the now-defunct racing car manufacturer Reynard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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