Williams team principal Simon Roberts has left the outfit, 12 months since joining it in the wake of its sale to Dorilton.
Roberts’ departure has come about due to a restructuring of the team’s staff. Jost Capito, who took over as CEO at Williams earlier this year, will take over as team principal.Capito’s plans to restructure the team involve merging its separate race and factory-based engineering programmes into one. This is intended to produce a simpler structure and approve accountability.
Francois-Xavier ‘FX’ Demaison, who joined Williams from Volkswagen in March, will have responsibility for the combined engineering effort as technical director. Dave Redding will remain as team manager.
The team intend to confirm the identity of its new head of race engineering prior to the French Grand Prix.
Capito praised Roberts’ role in overseeing the team during the takeover. “Simon has played an integral role in managing the transition over the last 12 months and I would like to thank him for his great contribution during that time,” he said.
Roberts, who spent most of the previous 17 years with McLaren before joining Williams, said: “It has been a pleasure to take on the role of team principal following the departure of the Williams family from the sport. However, with the transition well underway I am looking forward to a new challenge and wish everyone in the team well for the future.”
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roodda (@roodda)
9th June 2021, 11:17
Very carefully managed words, some vintage PR here
Dave
9th June 2021, 11:25
Imola Effect.
Balue (@balue)
9th June 2021, 16:16
Interesting move. I would love to know what old Frank is thinking about all of this, and also life on the outside. An idea for a feature, Dieter?
ferrox glideh (@ferrox-glideh)
10th June 2021, 10:46
I imagine Frank is trying not to think about it at all.
Witan
9th June 2021, 16:34
Is this the start of cleaning out the Williams culture of heroic garagista failure? I hope so.
Roberts is a good man but he was hired by the family as yet another notch on the cane and was moved up to TP as a stop gap really. The instant nature of this departure suggests a sacking as Roberts can’t or won’t get with the new international owners and their managers.
If it revives the team then strength to their arm. If they are trying to turn in into VW then that would be a real pity.
andy_williams
9th June 2021, 20:23
not spoken to anyone at McLaren or Wiliams then……. ;)
GeeMac (@geemac)
10th June 2021, 6:37
“heroic garagista failure”
A bit strong…Williams are one of the sports grendee teams, they aren’t some Token effort (pun intended). The fact that most fans these days don’t remember them winning races and championships doesn’t take away from the fact that Williams are one of the most successful teams in history. Second highest number of constructors championships, fourth highest number of wins and pole positions… the deserve more respect.
The steps the team are putting in place are aimed at moving them back to the pointy end of the grid and need time to pay off.
Jimmi Cynic (@jimmi-cynic)
9th June 2021, 18:56
I’d hoped for improvement. But on the internet, approval is next best thing.
Simon
10th June 2021, 0:36
“Williams team principal Simon Roberts has left the outfit, 12 months since joining it”
Interesting that he’s the only one reported as leaving, was probably only on a 12 month FTC. And yes, a lot of PR-speak in the announcement
Matt Jones (@mattj)
10th June 2021, 12:05
The BBC is a bit stronger on this
How on earth can the team have gotten itself in the position where you almost have two separate organisations? Almost working against each other.