Mercedes Technical Director Mike Elliot tells Tom Clarkson how they traced the car’s problems to a single design decision, how a year of not winning has helped the people at Mercedes develop, and how he craves a return to the team’s championship-winning form. Looking back, Mike remembers why he chose a career in F1, and the remarkable day two top teams offered him a role. That led him to work in aerodynamics for McLaren, and he recalls a surprising early conversation he had with the team’s young test driver, Lewis Hamilton. McLaren’s former leader Ron Dennis, legendary car designer Adrian Newey, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and drivers Michael Schumacher, Nico Rosberg and George Russell also feature in Mike’s story. He explains how F1 engineering has become ‘more specialised’ and advises anyone who aspires to work in F1 car design. 0:00 – How a ‘mistake’ led to learning 9:16 – ‘I know I can cope with anything’ 16:20 – Stepping up to be ‘the boss’ 25:52 – Choosing a team, working with Wo