Williams names former VW motorsport boss as sporting director

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Former VW motorsport boss Sven Smeets has joined Williams Racing as the British outfit's new sporting director.

The 49-year-old Belgian previously worked under the orders of Williams CEO Jost Capito when the latter was at the helm of VW's motorsport department.

Capito, who also poached current Williams technical director François-Xavier Demaison from VW's racing department earlier this year, has entrusted Smeets with "the sporting governance and representation of the team in all sporting matters related to the FIA, other teams, and motorsport associations."

Smeets will also assume "overall accountability for the race team" and oversee Williams' young driver academy, which currently includes Jack Aitken, Roy Nissany and Jamie Chadwick.

Read also: Williams chief Capito has tested positive for Covid!

"Working alongside Jost Capito, FX Demaison and the Williams Racing Management Team, Sven ensures that the optimal culture, resources and environment are in place for the team to succeed," states Smeet's bio on the Williams website.

Smeets' kicked off his motorsport career as a navigator in the world of rallying before taking up a management role with Volkswagen in the World Rally Championship in 2013.

But upon Capito's move to McLaren in 2016, Smeets took over the management of VW's motorsport division, a position he held for four years before committing to Williams Racing and F1, embedding with the team for the first time in Qatar.

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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.