Restructuring at Williams F1: Michael and Tomlinson resign
Williams F1 announced today that Technical Director Sam Michael and Chief Aerodynamicist Jon Tomlinson have resigned from their positions within the British company. The resignation will take effect at the end of the year.
We knew the team was in a period of trouble both from a managerial and financial perspective. To resolve these issues, the Grove team made some sacrifices. Sam Michael and Jon Tomlinson submitted their resignations on Frank Williams’ desk this morning.
Frank Williams, the team director, stated via a press release: « Sam [Michael] and Jon [Tomlinson] are talented and have always pushed the team upwards in the last 10 or 5 years according to their respective arrivals in the company. »
Williams has been in turmoil since the beginning of the season. The results, despite efforts, are not up to expectations, and tensions have appeared in the team for some time. The technical team is often the first to bear the brunt: « Nevertheless, they have also admitted to being disappointed with the team’s current performance in Formula 1, which is not at the level it should be. They have resigned to give us the opportunity to refocus on work and make the necessary changes to return to the front of the grid next year. » continues the Englishman.
The two men will continue to work with the team until the end of the season in order to maintain momentum and best prepare for the 2012 season. We are very grateful for their professional approach and the work they have done all this time.
The Williams team has not indicated who will take over the positions of these two men. However, the team is expected to announce the arrival of Mike Coughlan – who was dismissed in the McLaren espionage case in 2007 – as the chief engineer of the English team.
