Claire Williams is confident that hiring Paddy Lowe as technical chief and giving him shares in the team will return the team to the top of Formula 1.
Speaking to ESPN, Williams said, “There hasn’t been a massive overhaul; we still have most people in play. Paddy’s arrival into the team has been hugely motivational more than anything so far.”
“Obviously it’s going to take a bit of time for him to embed himself in the team and to found out where the true weaknesses are and to start rectifying those.”
Lowe was an instrumental member of the Mercedes upper management that helped transform the German team from also-rans into the all conquering outfit it has been over the past three years.
His move to Williams provides them with a man who knows how to revitalise and develop a racing team at the highest level.
“Just having somebody of Paddy’s calibre, I suppose, join our team is not only a message for everybody out there, looking and seeing where our ambitions are, but also it’s a huge motivating force for everyone within Williams to know that the board at Williams is hugely ambitious about our future and we want somebody of Paddy’s calibre to come and help turn our fortunes around.”
Williams also signed former Ferrari chief aerodynamicist Dirk de Beer, whose work is already evident in the team’s 2017 challenger.
“Dirk de Beer, who joined us now many weeks ago actually and has already had a significant impact in our aero team and is doing a fantastic job and obviously the car he designed won the first race this year, so that’s a real positive for us,” added Williams.