Paddy Lowe takes 'leave of absence' from Williams!

40

One week before the 2019 F1 season kicks off in Australia, Williams has announced that technical director Paddy Lowe is taking a "leave of absence" from the British outfit.

Williams' troubled start to its 2019 season, marked by production issues that forced the Grove-based outfit to delay the roll-out of its FW4 by over two days in Barcelona, had led pundits to question Lowe's position with the team.

The 56-year-old engineer, who is also a Williams shareholder, said last week in Spain that he did not have any immediate "concerns" about his position.

Williams deputy team principal Claire Williams revealed that the outfit was conducting an internal investigation into its processes, discarding speculation that its problems were linked to suppliers or to budget constraints.

Williams adamant FW42 delay not linked to suppliers or budget

A spokesperson for Williams confirmed to Autosport that Lowe "is taking a leave of absence from the business for personal reasons", but offered no clarity on the engineer's future.

Williams' troubles gained momentum in 2018 following a dismal season with its problematic FW41, the first car to be designed under Lowe's guidance following his departure from Mercedes.

The British team was hoping for a complete reset this year and a move up the grid, but the belated launch of its 2019 contender put the team on the back-foot at the outset when pre-season testing kicked off in Barcelona.

Neither rookie George Russell or F1 returnee Robert Kubica, who form the squad's 2019 line-up, had encouraging words to say about the FW42 in Barcelona, but it was all seen as a work in progress.

The car enjoyed adequate reliability once it was put on its rails at the Circuit de Catalunya, but was consistently the slowest among the runners.

It's another tough start to its season for F1's third most successful team on the grid and for its drivers.

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

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.