Ex-Ferrari chief Allison joins Mercedes F1 as technical director

It comes just over one month after the world champion team announced executive director (technical) Paddy Lowe had left ahead of an expected move to Williams.

Allison had been out of work since leaving Ferrari last July, having spent three years at Maranello.

He will join Mercedes on March 1 to head up the technical organisation and will report directly to team boss Toto Wolff, while Lowe and Wolff operated side-by-side.

Mercedes' structure also includes Aldo Costa (engineering director), Mark Ellis (performance director), Rob Thomas (chief operating officer) and Geoff Willis (technology director).

"I am very excited to be getting back to work after this time away from the sport," said Allison.

"It's a massive privilege to be given the trust of a position in a team that has done so spectacularly well in the past three seasons.

"I am really looking forward to playing my part in helping Mercedes go from strength to strength in the coming years."

Allison was with Renault and Lotus before joining Ferrari for a second stint in 2013.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff added: "I am delighted to welcome James to Mercedes and very much looking forward to working with him.

"Our technical team is extremely skilled at every level and at the top of its game after delivering three world championships in a row.

"It wasn't an easy task to find the right personality who can strengthen our experienced group of engineers, give our talented young team members the space to develop and also bring his own vision to this role.

"James is a sharp engineer; I think we have found the perfect guy and the right fit with our senior leaders."