Vowles: Williams to announce new technical director 'shortly'

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Williams team boss James Vowles says the Grove-based outfit will soon reveal the identity of its future technical director.

Vowles moved from Mercedes to Williams in the early part of 2023, with the Brackley squad's former chief strategist filling the void created at the end of last by the exit of Jost Capito.

However, the team's former technical director François-Xavier Demaison who followed Capito out the door has not yet been replaced.

Speaking on F1's latest Beyond the Grid podcast, Vowles said that the identity of the man who will lead Williams' engineering department in the future will soon be revealed.

Read also:

Vowles: Williams left lagging by ’20 years of under-investment’

"Technical Director… so what I can say is the following," commented the Brion. "Since I’ve started, it’s been my primary focus, making sure we have the right technical structure in place.

"And also putting in place structures that allow us to really move on and develop without the external bodies being in place yet.

©Williams

"Before the end of the year, you’ll see that the structure would have changed here internally with support from external individuals.

"But we’re not at a stage yet where I can talk any more about it."

There has been some significant movement on the engineering front lately, with former McLaren tech boss James Key moving to Sauber as a consequence of wholesale changes within the Woking-based outfit's technical department, with former Ferrari engineer David Sanchez moving to team papaya.

Vowles hinted that Williams has poached a high-profile engineer from another "organization", but the team is not yet at liberty to divulge the individual's identity.

"It’s a very sensitive time, as I’m sure you would imagine involving other organisations," he said.

"There will be news shortly, in fact, but not today."

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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.