Williams Release Pat Symonds from Chief Technical Officer Role

Paul Jeffrey · Dec 20, 2016

The Williams Martini Racing Formula One team have today confirmed their veteran Chief Technical Officer Pat Symonds will leave the squad at the end of 2016, possibily bringing to an end a career spanning 36 years across numerous prestigious Grand Prix teams.

Symonds, 63, will leave Williams after a three season spell at the Grove concern, amidst strong rumours that the Mercedes Formula One team Executive Director Paddy Lowe will soon join the former championship winning squad, possibly in a role similar to the soon to be vacated Chief Technical Officer position Symonds currently holds.

"Williams today announces that Pat Symonds will be stepping down from the role of Chief Technical Officer of WILLIAMS MARTINI RACING at the end of 2016.

Pat joined Williams towards the end of the 2013 Formula One season on a three-year contract, and in that time has helped oversee a strong turn around in the team’s performances on the race track, with 14 podiums secured over the past three seasons. Pat will be departing on 31st December 2016.

Claire Williams, Deputy Team Principal, said; “Pat has been a tremendous asset to this team over the past three years. Pat’s appointment was the start of a major restructuring exercise, and he has been pivotal in reshaping Williams into what is a much stronger racing team today. I would like to thank him for all of his hard work and commitment during that time. We now look to the future and will be announcing details regarding the team’s technical leadership in due course.”

With a fresh injection of cash courtesy of Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll, coupled with potentially greater collaboration between Williams and multiple Constructors Champions Mercedes next season, the team will be keen to improve on their steadily decreasing fortunes heading into the new racing season. Time will tell if the removal of one of Formula One's great engineers will turn out to be a wise decision or not for team Willy in 2017.

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Do you think the release of Symonds following the completion of his contract is a wise move by Williams? Would you like to see Paddy Lowe take over the reigns at the team? Let us know in the comments section below!

Lorenzo Bonder · Dec 20, 2016

And Massa signed up his comeback to Williams (APPARENTLY) and and Bottas is on the verge of going to Mercedes.

Busy week for Williams huh.

Brandon Wright · Dec 20, 2016

Lorenzo Bonder said:
And Massa signed up his comeback to Williams and and Bottas is on the verge of going to Mercedes.

Busy week for Williams huh.

I really really hope to see BOT on the top step of the podium at least once next year. He seems like a really good kid and he can drive the wheels off, been rooting for him since he first came to Williams.

Leonardo Chaves · Dec 20, 2016

Making room for Paddy Lowe huh.

Stefan Woudenberg · Dec 20, 2016

Heared the same thing . Massa will stay another year at Williams and Bottas moves to Mercedes.

Rodent · Dec 20, 2016

Gonna be real interesting to see if Motorsport Magazine hold their by now traditional podcast with Symonds for the next F1 season, he's usually veen rather candid, I'd imagine even more so if he's no longer actively working for one of the teams. That said Williams are looking like they're deffinatly going to bounce back to #4 with the Stoll cash, possibly discounted engines and Lowe.