Head to end direct F1 involvement at Williams
Williams co-founder and engineering director Patrick Head will play no active role in the team next season, he has confirmed. Head will instead switch his attentions to the team’s successful hybrid technologies business.
"I am not going to be directly part of the Williams Formula One programme next year," Head told news agency Reuters, after the team completed their worst-ever season in F1 at Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix.
Head, 65, set up Williams Grand Prix Engineering with team principal Frank Williams back in 1977, but has deliberately reduced his front-line role in recent seasons. His presence at fewer races has prompted regular rumours of imminent retirement, which he has always denied.
The Englishman admitted he never imagined he would end his Formula One involvement on the back of such a poor campaign, but said that with the running of Williams’ technical department now in the hands of established colleagues, he is ready for a new challenge.“When I have a look at what specifically I can do to assist (new technical director) Mike Coughlan and (chief operations officer) Mark Gillan and (head of aerodynamics) Jason Somerville, I came to the conclusion that it isn't really enough to justify me carrying on doing the same thing,” he continued. "It's not interesting for me and it's not good for the company so I decided to have a change of focus.”
Head will now take on an increased role in Williams Hybrid Power, which develops flywheel technologies for use in various applications including public transport systems. He will, however, remain a shareholder in the Williams team.
Williams, who have won nine constructors' championships and seven drivers' titles, scored just five points in 2011 and have not taken a race victory since Juan Pablo Montoya’s 2004 triumph in Brazil.
Credit: Formula One Administration Ltd (www.formula1.com)
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