Williams Racing has just pulled off an impressive recruitment coup in the world of Formula 1. They’ve brought on a slew of new technical talent, headlined by Matt Harman, ex-Alpine technical director. This latest move shows Williams isn’t just tinkering around the edges; they’re going full throttle to revamp their performance.
Matt Harman, who recently left Alpine, is set to become Williams’ new design director. He made his exit from Alpine at the start of the 2024 season when their A524 car was painfully slow. Harman will officially join Williams after the summer break, and he’s not coming alone.
Joining Harman are four other notable hires: Fabrice Moncade, previously Ferrari’s head of performance analytics; Juan Molina, ex-Haas principal aerodynamicist; Steve Winstanley from Red Bull; and Richard Frith, another former Alpine talent. Moncade takes on the role of chief engineer for computing science starting in July, while Molina is set to be the new chief aerodynamicist from mid-July. Winstanley has been brought in as chief engineer for composites and structures, with a big task to ‘transform the structures department.’ Frith, meanwhile, will step into his role as head of performance systems in 2025.
The team isn’t stopping there. Sorin Cheran, who previously worked with Hewlett Packard Enterprise, is stepping in as Williams’ new chief information and analytics officer (CIAO). His mission? To overhaul how Williams manages and uses data in their tech operations. This comes in the wake of a surprising revelation that Williams was using a massive Excel spreadsheet to plan their car builds, a fact that left team principal James Vowles and chief technical officer Pat Fry shocked.
Speaking of Fry, he only joined Williams last November after his own stint at Alpine. He’s been vocal about his excitement for the new team members. ‘Williams has bold ambitions and huge momentum,’ Fry said. ‘These exceptional recruits show this is a project people want to be part of. We are adding strength in depth to the enormous talent already at Grove as we build for the future.’
Williams’ team principal James Vowles also chimed in, expressing his delight over the new hires. ‘We are on a mission to fight our way back to the front and being able to attract experienced, championship-winning talent from other teams demonstrates huge belief in the journey we are on,’ Vowles stated.
Williams has embarked on this significant recruitment drive under the ownership of Dorilton Capital, which acquired the team in 2020. The team had struggled with poor results after years of under-investment, but with these bold new hires, it seems they’re gearing up for a serious comeback.
Williams Racing’s latest recruitment drive is a loud and clear signal: they mean business. With experienced engineers like Matt Harman and other key talents joining the squad, they’re aiming to transform their fortunes and make a significant impact on the F1 grid. The road ahead is challenging, but with this new team, Williams is set to push their way back toward the front.
Source: Motorsport
