Ferrari have split with technical director James Allison in a mutual decision, the Formula One team announced ­Wednesday, in a move which could deal a big blow to their title ambitions.

Briton Allison joined the team in September 2013 from the Enstone-based Lotus outfit, which is now Renault, and had worked under technical director Ross Brawn during the Michael Schumacher years.

The highly regarded 48-year-old was seen as the man to spearhead a turnaround in the fortune of the sport's most successful team, who have endured a few difficult years.