FORUMula1.com

[1Lemon]

The trouble is that Mercedes upper management are constantly on a tight rope. Just like having 2 top drivers im a team. Imagine trying to have 5 top engineers who are used to having it their way constantly fighting and it is your job to keep them working as a team.

I suppose as engineers they should be less ego run than drivers so every engineer would have to prove his point with evidence. Which means it should work however might slow the process down on the way forward...

Stagnation by committee

Or 'UK Government' as is more commonly know.

[spankyham]

I read a post that JA's decision to move was somewhat financially based. Clearly Ferrari is an option for him in 2014 alongside his mate Pat Fry, but there are other options open to him IMO. Still, I think Ferrari is probably the front runner.

James Allison closing in on Ferrari move, but no deal yet

James Allison is closing in on a move to join Ferrari in a senior technical position, AUTOSPORT has learned, but a deal is not done yet.

After intense speculation about the future of Allison, whose exit as technical director at Lotus was confirmed on Wednesday, AUTOSPORT understands that he and Ferrari are working towards an agreement.



If the talks come off, then Allison will return to the team where he spent five years from 2000 during its most successful recent spell.

It is not clear exactly what position Allison is being lined up for, but it is likely that he will work alongside its current technical director Pat Fry as the outfit bids to bolster its structure.

However, no deal is yet in place, which means there remains the remote possibility that a move may not come off if final terms cannot be agreed.

With no contract yet finalised, and non-disclosure agreements in place over the discussions, Ferrari has played down talk about Allison rejoining the team.

When asked whether Allison was joining the team, Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo said at an event in Maranello on Wednesday: "I don't know any truth in that. I must deny it."

However, when speaking about the wider Allison situation, di Montezemolo later said: "We will communicate when there is news to say, but not where there are rumours."

Allison, who is one of the most highly-rated design engineers in F1, has been the target of several teams in recent months with his contract at Lotus coming to an end later this year.

McLaren made an approach in the wake of Paddy Lowe's switch to Mercedes, but was declined, while Williams is also understood to have sounded Allison out about a senior team role.

Of other teams that would be logical contenders, Mercedes already has a wealth of senior technical figures, while Red Bull still remains fully focused on the structure that revolves around Adrian Newey.

Lotus has replaced Allison with Nick Chester with immediate effect.

[1Lemon]

You start to wonder if any of these rumours have any kind of basis on, sure he may be looking at a future in Ferrari or wherever, but I always take these "Autosport Understands" based articles with a fist full of salt, who knows where their getting the info from.

Also doesn't this mean Ferrari will have two technical directors? (Mind you Merc has about 350).

[spankyham]

Also doesn't this mean Ferrari will have two technical directors? (Mind you Merc has about 350).

JA would come on board as Pat Fry's 2iC IMO

[1Lemon]

Well I'd like him to go to Williams. If only to make the statement in my sig come true.

[1Lemon]

He has turned down McLaren and Williams, while Mercedes have indicated he will not be joining them

this in from the bbc.... arse.

[andrew]

Ferrari? Poor guy.

[LewEngBridewell]

Awww he just wants a sexy red shirt