Williams F1 hires controversial former McLaren engineer in major staff shift

[Haltech]

Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs



The ebb and flow of Formula One teams typically works in a cyclical fashion. Teams rise and fall like so many world powers across the course of history. But while Williams was once a championship front-running team, it's been years since they've been on the top.

Against that backdrop, the British racing outfit has announced some major changes in its senior staff. Both technical director Sam Michael (pictured above at left) and chief aerodynamicist Jon Tomlinson have resigned from their positions and are leaving the team to regroup in an effort to regain its former glory.

In their place, Williams has hired Mike Coughlan as chief engineer. The former McLaren technical chief left the sport in disgrace in the wake of the "spygate" scandal of 2007 and was banned from the sport for two years. But with that period long since expired, Williams is apparently glad to bring him and his years of top-level experience into its fold.

Coughlan will join the team this coming June, while Michael and Tomlinson will depart upon the expiration of their contracts at the end of the season, at which point Coughlan could very well be appointed technical director. Follow the jump for the pair of press releases on the announcements.Continue reading Williams F1 hires controversial former McLaren engineer in major staff shift

Williams F1 hires controversial former McLaren engineer in major staff shift originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 May 2011 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.



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