After a disappointing start to life with the limited W14 machine (the successor to the Dolphin’s 2022 car), there has been speculation that Allison has resumed a more hands-on role at Brackley.

The former Lotus and Ferrari technical chief joined Mercedes in 2017, and after four years at the helm of the design department, he stepped down from his day job to take on the more prominent role of chief technical officer.

This adjusted role allows Allison to allocate time to other projects such as team co-owner INEOS’ involvement in the America’s Cup. Wolff clarified that the arrangement had not changed in light of the eight-time constructors’ champion’s recent decline.

Asked in an exclusive interview with Autosport whether Allison had an active role in updating the W14, Wolff said: “No, he’s not really involved.

“He’s involved in the team’s long-term strategy. But he’s involved in more events, like the Copa America.”

Faced with the suggestion that the team might want to parachute Allison to assist his successor, Mike Elliott, Wolff continued: “There’s not always just one person in the organization.

“But you need to find the right person for the right role. Sometimes that can mean you are very capable in a certain area, but maybe not well-rounded.

“James, of course, has a great track record as a past technical director and is a man of the people. He’s a man who is still very important to the organization.”

James Allison, Technical Director, Mercedes-AMG

Photography: Steve Etherington/ motorsport pictures

The Mercedes technical team has been subject to a steady flow of personnel throughout its title-winning splendor.

Notably, Allison’s predecessor Paddy Lowe left the Williams team, while former chief aerodynamicist Eric Blandin switched to an in-form Aston Martin for 2021.

Likewise, engineering director (and later team advisor) Aldo Costa left Mercedes at the start of 2020 to lead the technical department at race car manufacturer Dallara.

Asked about the difficulty of replacing those golems, Wolfe said: “People like Aldo, you can never replace them.

“But you need to find in the structure, that you divide the work among several other people.

“Aldo has also been fantastic at arranging his successor – it’s not something that happens every day.

“We basically had two-and-a-half years of warning that he was going to leave. He shaped the department in the sense that he was.”