Williams appoints Jost Capito as Chief Executive Officer

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Williams Racing has appointed former Volkswagen motorsport boss and McLaren man Jost Capito as its new chief executive officer, a responsibility the German will take on from February 1, 2021.

Williams also confirmed on Thursday that interim team principal Simon Roberts has been designated permanently in the role.

Capito's appointment is the first significant management change and high-profile hiring undertaken at Williams since the team was acquired by US investment group Dorilton Capital.

Capito's four-decade involvement in motorsport boasts an impressive track record that has seen him fulfill management roles with BMW, Porsche, Sauber, Ford and Volkswagen, the German spearheading the latter's resounding success in the World Rally Championship.

But Capito also enjoyed a brief stint in F1 at the helm of the McLaren team in 2016 before he returned to Volkswagen to manage the company's Volkswagen R GmbH and Volkswagen Zubehor GmbH road-car subsidiaries.

©MikeBorrmann

Capito will report directly to Matthew Savage, Williams Chairman, and will take full responsibility for the day-to-day running of the company.

"It’s a great honour for me to join Williams Racing during these exciting and demanding times for both the team and for Formula One," he said.

"It is an honour to be a part of the future of this storied team, and one that carries such a poignant name in the sport, so I approach this challenge with great respect and with a huge amount of relish."

Read also: Sir Frank Williams admitted to hospital - currently in stable condition

Matthew Savage, Chairman of Dorilton Capital, commented: "We are excited to welcome Jost Capito as the new CEO of Williams Racing. He is an experienced and competitive individual, who has built winning teams and is a winner in his own right.

"He understands the Williams heritage and will work well with the team in pursuit of our objective to return to the front of the grid."

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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.