Williams team chief Claire Williams admits that Paddy Lowe joining he team would galvanise the Grove outfit and put it back on track to fight for Formula 1 victories and even world titles, which have all but dried up for them in recent years.
Lowe recently departed Mercedes recently, prompting speculation that he would move to Williams as part of an intricate deal to allow Valtteri Bottas to replace Nico Rosberg in the world champion team.
But Williams revealed that there is no connection, “For us the two are separate. We obviously need a technical director now that Pat Symonds has departed the team that will come in and put us back to where our ambitions lie at Williams and that is to win races and world championships.”
“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 to be at the top of our list, he would be a fantastic addition. He started his career at Williams and what team wouldn’t want someone like Paddy Lowe,” added Williams.
Lowe, who was instrumental in Mercedes’ unprecedented success which began when he joined in 2013, started his Formula 1 career with Williams as Joint Head of Electronic in 1987.
He spent six years with the team, during which time he oversaw the development of active suspension which helped Nigel Mansell win the 1992 World Championship.
Upon leaving Mercedes. with six F1 world titles in three years on his CV. Lowe said, “I am now looking forward to a new challenge.”
The team he may join was formed by Sir Frank Williams with Patrick Head in the seventies. It is the third most successful F1 outfit behind Ferrari and McLaren, having won nine F1 constructors’ titles, seven drivers’ titles and scored 114 grand prix victories in the process.