Fry joins Williams as Chief Technical Officer

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Williams announced on Friday the appointment of Pat Fry as the British outfit's new chief technical officer.

Fry will join Williams at the end of the year after a gardening leave imposed by Alpine following his departure from the Enstone squad where the Briton also held the position of CTO.

Williams has been operating without a technical director since the end of last year, but team boss James Vowles hinted earlier this month that the right man for the job was on his way.

"On behalf of all at Williams Racing, I’m delighted to be welcoming Pat," said Vowles.

"His knowledge and experience will further strengthen the team's technical capabilities and pursuit of excellence as we build the next chapter of Williams.

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"Pat has been a core part of winning teams throughout his career, he is one of the most respected experts in our industry and I’m excited to begin work with him when he joins in November."

A veteran of the sport who began his career in F1 in the late 1980s, Fry has held senior engineering positions at McLaren where he worked for 17 years and at Ferrari.

In 2020, Fry joined Alpine as Chassis Technical Director, later assuming the position of Chief Technical Officer in February 2022, overseeing all technical activities at the Enstone-based team.

"I am thrilled to be joining Williams Racing as Chief Technical Officer," said Fry. "The team has a rich heritage in Formula 1, and I am excited to contribute to its future success.

"I believe in the team's potential and, together, we will strive for excellence on and off the track."

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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.