Published: 8 September 2020 - 12.43pm.

World. I look forward to the challenge ahead as we look to take the team back to the front of the grid.”. UK. He also did a year on secondment at Force India as Chief Operating Officer in 2009, and on returning to McLaren took over responsibility for engineer and factory operations. Roberts joined the British-based team in June from McLaren, where he had been COO, and will take charge immediately with Formula One racing at Italy's Mugello circuit this weekend.

Roberts has spent the last three months immersing himself in the team, getting to know the intricacies of each department and giving himself an overview of the F1 operation.

His daughter Claire assumed the day-to-day running of the team in 2013. who has fulfilled the role of Managing Director at the team since joining in June. © 2020 Arena Holdings (Pty) Ltd. All rights reserved.

By Press Association Published: 8 September 2020 - 12.43pm × To Note.

The team earlier announced that chief executive Mike O'Driscoll was set to retire after supporting the ownership transition through 2020. Simon Roberts: Compared to most automotive industries, we do to ourselves every year what most big automotive companies will do every three to five years. He has been appointed as acting team principal. We start designing our cars in March with the longest lead activities, which is the gear box. Despite their great success in the 1980s and 1990s – producing Nelson Piquet, Nigel Mansell and Damon Hill as world champions – Williams have won just one race in the last 16 years. Sir Frank had been the team principal. Send. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free.

Die neuen Eigentümer von Williams verstecken sich nicht, sagt Teamchef Simon Roberts - Seine Zukunft als Verantwortlicher ist noch nicht geklärt

I look forward to the challenge ahead as we look to take the team back to the front of the grid.".

“It is an exciting time ahead for the team, a new era for Williams and one that I am excited to be playing a part in. He will head up the British team’s Formula One operation after its founder Sir Frank Williams, and deputy team principal Claire Williams, left the sport following the sale to US investment firm Dorilton Capital. On arriving at Grove, Roberts took overall responsibility for the team’s technical, operations and planning functions, reporting to Mike O’Driscoll - who announced on Tuesday that he would be retiring from the team after a transiton period following the sale. “I am proud to have played my part in securing the long-term future of Williams and look forward to working closely with Matthew and his team, to ensure a smooth transition and the best possible trajectory for future success.”.