Two engineers from Mercedes
In the early phase of this season, Williams is going through a serious difficulty, with the FW48 proving to be uncompetitive and a Constructors’ Championship standing that sees the historic Grove team among the squads at the bottom of the group, as shown by the mere two points earned so far. However, Team Principal James Vowles has launched projects aimed at ending this crisis, with the hiring within a month of two high-level technicians from Mercedes.
The first hire
The first, in chronological order, was Dan Miller, who holds the role of vehicle technology manager. Chief engineer of vehicle technology in Brackley, Vowles has already praised the work of the former Mercedes engineer: “Dan’s impact is already very significant and rapid, and we are working on many projects in which he has experience. In fact, thanks to his contribution, we have taken a slightly different direction – he explained – there is no resistance to change when aiming for excellence, and by this I mean that we will head in the right direction and follow it as long as there is a clear ambition and determination to reach a championship level, and Dan brings exactly that.”
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Working from Miami
Already on this weekend in Miami, Vowles announced the second technical figure who will join Williams: it is Claire Simpson, who for over ten years held the position of head of aerodynamics at Mercedes. At Williams, Simpson will be head of aerodynamic development, and will work closely with chief aerodynamicist Juan Molina: “Today Claire Simpson from Mercedes also joined us – Vowles told the media, announcing future new entries – so this is her first day as a full-time member and soon we will make announcements about it, but in the next three or four months some fantastic people will arrive.”
