James Allison in Barcelona loitering with intent

Cutting a familiar figure in the Barcelona paddock and pitlane, albeit in unfamiliar team gear, is Mercedes' newly appointed technical director James Allison who has kept a low profile while he familiarises himself with his new team and life from a Silver Arrows perspective.

Allison departed Ferrari last year and not long after was appointed to his new role with the World Champion team, replacing the team's former technical chief Paddy Lowe who is reportedly set for a senior role at Williams.

When Allison's appointment was made public, he said, “I am very excited to be getting back to work after this time away from the sport."

"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,” added Allison.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff told Corriere della Sera, "His skills and personality are a perfect fir for our team and we share the same spirit. For a long time we have believed that he was the right man for our team, but he was not available to us.

"He has endured a terrible period of personal tragedy with his family and last year on a professional front in which Ferrari did not achieve the goals set by Sergio Marchionne. Now he is very motivated and we will help him turn the page," Wolff added.

Red Bull consultant Helmut Marko summed up the challenge that Mercedes' new technical boss faces, "James Allison got a pretty well designed car. Now it will be interesting to see how he develops it, because he has to develop a car that is not a product of his philosophy."

"Yes he is an experienced guy, so he will manage it…" added Marko.