Simon Roberts has been appointed as Managing Director of Williams Formula 1 team.
He had been providing his engineering services to McLaren for a long time.
Roberts, 57 year old, will be on-board with Williams from June 1, 2020. He will be managing Formula 1 operations while reporting directly to Mike O’Driscoll, Chief Executive Officer.
Claire Williams, Deputy team principal, expressed on behalf of the team She added: “Simon will bring enormous experience and knowledge to the Williams team.
“And we are delighted that he is joining us when we head back to work after this long enforced F1 shutdown.
“He will lead a highly talented team that’s looking forward to designing and developing the next generation of Williams F1 cars.”
Roberts will be handling operations, planning and will also be leading technical ambitions for the team.
His induction to Williams is being seen as significant effort to revive and boost their technical aspects. The move is being welcomed after the team faced the worst season in their F1 history.
Roberts worked as Operations Director, McLaren F1 for major part of his career with the team. After 14 years, he was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2017.
In 2009, Force India F1 team also benefited from his technical expertise. His expertise were shared by McLaren as a product of technical partnership with the former team.
Roberts for reshaping Williams
Williams dominated the sport during 1980s and 1990s but somehow it lost its charm and struggled with incompetence. It started with restructuring the team last season.
The team wasn’t ready at the start but it failed its season in 2019. Williams was slowest of all lagging two seconds a lap from the second last car on board.
Paddy Lowe, Chief technical officer, said goodbyes to Williams in March.
The management is willing to reshape it team and revive their brand image in the sport. It has opened the door to the critical functions in order to enhance its position in the sport, especially design department.
Claire Williams described it as “a full after-action review of the the whole process of designing, build and manufacture and we have left no stone unturned and made the necessary changes where we needed to”.
