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Lowe targets continued evolution over revolution at Williams

Williams partner and tech boss Paddy Lowe insists he will strive for continuous improvement, but there will be no revolution at the Grove-based outfit.

Lowe left the dominant Mercedes squad at the beginning of 2017 to commit to Williams' resurgence as its technical chief boss and as a shareholder.

In the last year, the 55-year-old engineer has initiated many changes at Williams, which he sees them as part of a process of evolution destined to better exploit the team's resources rather than a major overhaul.

"I think the important thing [to focus on] is the project itself, so the car for 2018, but in amongst that there's developing the organization itself and developing the capability of that organization," Lowe told RACER.

"So what investments are we making in machinery or software or technology of all sorts? Making sure we're using the budget in the best way in terms of distribution. Do we have enough effort in the right areas? These are all things that I'm working on in parallel with the project itself, which is the car.

"There's nothing radical to be done, it's not my style to go in and create revolution because I've not found that necessary or seen it effective.

"What we've got is actually a good team, it's about making it better and that's about evolving in the right directions, building what needs to be strengthened with the focus and the priority on the things that matter.

"There's nothing particular to highlight in that way, or if there were I probably wouldn't describe them!"

With Williams running nowhere near the budget levels enjoyed by Mercedes, Ferrari or Red Bull, Lowe underscores the necessity for the British squad to manage its capacities in the most cost-effective way possible.

"Yeah you do more often bump up against resource constraints in a small team than you do in a big team.

"So you can write a long list of all the things that are worth doing and then you have to go and look at what are the ones that you actually have the capacity to deliver.

"But even there there's judgment needed and that's part of the competition – making the right judgments about what things are worth doing and what things you leave for another day."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

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