Williams Fire Michael, Sign Spygate's Coughlan

Williams F1's incredibly poor start of the season this year will not remain without repercussions in the management structure of the Grove based organization. As rumored in the media for the past couple of weeks, Sir Frank Williams is planning a restructuring of his team and apparently technical head Sam Michael and chief aerodynamicist Jon Tomlinson have not made the cut.

According to an official statement released by the British team earlier today, the technical duo will leave the squad at year end.

“Both Sam and Jon are talented and driven people who have worked hard for Williams over 10 and five years respectively,” said Williams. “Nonetheless, they have recognised that the team’s performance is not at the level that it needs to be and have resigned in order to give the team the opportunity to regroup and undertake the changes necessary to get back to the front of the grid.”

At the same time, the British team has also announced the appointment of former McLaren man and 'spygate' conspirator Mike Coughlan – who had been banned two years from F1 following his involvement in the scandal – as new chief engineer. Currently working in NASCAR, Coughlan will start work for Williams in June.

“Mike Coughlan is a fine engineer with extensive experience across Formula One and both civil and defence engineering,” added Williams. “He left Formula One in 2007 because of conduct which he acknowledges was wrong and which he profoundly regrets. His two year ban from the sport expired some time ago and Mike is now determined to prove himself again.”

“Williams is delighted to be able to give him the opportunity to do this and we are very pleased to have one of the most talented and competitive engineers in the sport helping us to return to the front of the grid. This is the first step in re-building and strengthening our technical group. We will announce the next steps as they develop.”