Symonds Leaves Williams

SYMONDS LEAVES WILLIAMS WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT

    Williams’ chief technical officer Pat Symonds has left the team with immediate effect. The 63 year old has worked with the team since 2013.

    Symonds, who is trained as an aerodynamicist, played a crucial role in the re-birth of Williams in 2014, but the team has seen a recent slow in progress that saw them slip behind Force India in the constructors’ championship last year. He joined the team at the end of 2013 on a three year contract.

    It’s not yet known why Symonds has left the team, but the announcement comes amidst many rumours surrounding the Williams 2017 team line up, including reports that Mercedes’ Paddy Lowe may be moving to the independent team.

    Though his long Formula One career has seen plenty of success, it is tainted by his involvement in the 2008 Singapore crash scandal. Symonds was suspended from Formula 1 due to the incident, but had his ban overturned.

    Claire Williams said in a statement:

    “Pat has been a tremendous asset to this team over the past three years. Pat’s appointment was the start of a major restructuring exercise, and he has been pivotal in reshaping Williams into what is a much stronger racing team today. I would like to thank him for all of his hard work and commitment during that time. We now look to the future and will be announcing details regarding the team’s technical leadership in due course.”

----
Article Written By: Bethonie Waring
No copyright infringement intended
Follow us on Twitter @Bethonie_Boost & @F1Insider78

Nico Rosberg Retires From Formula 1

NICO ROSBERG ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT FROM F1

    Nico Rosberg has announced his retirement from Formula One only a week after winning the World Drivers Championship for the first time.

    Rosberg thanked everybody who “supported me to make that dream happen” after announcing he would be leaving the series, despite having already signed a contract to stay at Mercedes for the 2017 season.

    “This season, I tell you, it was so damn tough. I pushed like crazy in every area after the disappointments of the last two years; they fueled my motivation to levels I had never experienced before,” Rosberg said. “And, of course, that had an impact on the ones I love too – it was a whole family effort of sacrifice, putting everything behind our target.”

     Rosberg told few people about his intentions to retire, making the announcement a shock to most of the motorsports world.

     “When I won the race in Suzuka, from the moment when the destiny of the title was in my own hands, the big pressure started and I bag to think about ending my racing career if I became World Champion,” he said. “On Sunday morning in Abu Dhabi, I knew that it could be my last race and that feeling cleared my head before the start. I wanted to enjoy every part of the experience, knowing it might be the last time."

    Rosberg said he decided on Monday evening, the day after securing the title.

     Team boss Toto Wolff has said the team will start looking for a replacement on Monday. Mercedes junior driver Pascal Wehrlein is thought to be a favourite, but Fernando Alonso is one of a number of drivers also rumoured to be heading to the team.

----

Article Written By: Bethonie Waring

No copyright infringement intended

Follow us on Twitter @Bethonie_Boost & @F1Insider78