Williams: Paddy Lowe would be a fantastic addition!

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As she divulged that negotiations with Mercedes over the future of Valtteri Bottas were reaching a head, Claire Williams also expressed the team's keen interest in Paddy Lowe.

Williams insisted however that the coveted engineer who helped steer Mercedes to three world championships was not a big ticket item demanded by the Grove-based outfit in exchange for Bottas.

"For us the two are separate. We obviously need a technical director now that Pat Symonds has departed the team that come in and put us back to where our ambitions lie at Williams and that is to win races and world championships," she said.

Claire Williams: Bottas news this week!

Lowe has not extended his contract with Mercedes which has put its former tech boss on gardening leave until at least next May.

Former Ferrari technical director James Allison has been touted as a replacement for Lowe although the German squad said it currently had no plans to announce its tech boss' successor.

Claire Williams reiterated this afternoon her keen interest in bringing Lowe back to his Formula 1 roots, the 54-year-old engineer having worked for Williams from 1987 to 1993.

"Of course someone like Paddy now that he is available is going to be appealing to us. He has driven that team to three world championship titles in three consecutive years.

"Of course he would be someone who has at the top of his list, he would be a fantastic addition. He started his career at Williams and what team wouldn’t want someone like Paddy Lowe."

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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.