Capito & Demaison to leave Williams Racing


By Williams Racing
December 13 2022

In a very brief announcement the Williams Racing Team confirmed that both Team Principal Jost Capito and Technical Director FX Demaison will be leaving the team to be replaced for the 2023 Formula One season. For Capito his deparure is to allow him to continue his planned retirement but as for FX there is an element of uncertainty as to why he is departing just at a time when his continued presence would in my view be seen as vital in terms of the 2023 FW45 design and development.

 
 Capito & Demaison to leave Williams Racing
 
Capito
 

Ahead of the 2023 FIA Formula One World Championship season, Williams Racing announces that, after two years at the helm of the Grove-based outfit as CEO and Team Principal, Jost Capito is stepping aside. Technical Director FX Demaison will leave his post after joining in 2021.

Williams Racing will announce its new Team Principal and Technical Director in due course.

Jost Capito: “It has been a huge privilege to lead Williams Racing for the last two seasons and to lay the foundations for the turnaround of this great team. I look forward to watching the team as it continues on its path to future success.”

Matthew Savage, Chairman, Dorilton Capital: “We would like to thank Jost for his hard work and dedication as we embarked on a major transformation process to begin the journey of reviving Williams Racing. We’re grateful that Jost postponed his planned retirement to take on this challenge and now he will pass the reins on for the next part of this staged process. We would also like to thank FX for his contribution and wish him all the best for his future as he moves on.”

 

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Capito & Demaison to leave Williams Racing
Discussion started by Williams F1 , 13/12/2022 00:14
Williams F1
13/12/2022 00:14
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peterdebel
13/12/2022 20:06
Have a laugh, Williams.

People just quit as they like ?

Don't they have a contract or did VW Group just show you the money and then "OK. You can have them".

Are we gonna be last in the Constructors Championship FOR EVER ?

Thought we where trying to build something ?

Who the next to leave? Alex, and go back to RB...?
"One time a RB. Always a RB ?"

Apply for the job:.

Without a Team Principal, a Technical Director, a Head of Aerodynamics...

What are your plans, Dorilton ??

At least, you could try to bring Symonds back, but that ship have sailed ?

Why the f**k are we ALWAYS struggeling ever since Newey left. Thank You, Frank. That left us in 25 years of s'hite...With no rising sun in sight.

We should have sold the team to the likes of a good brand with history like BMW or Apple, with one note: The teamname HAD to include "Williams F1 team"..

Everyone on the grid and enginesupplieres has a opinion about our history. But NO ONE gives a @#$%&'e about trying to help us what so ever.

This is gonna be the WORST Christmas EVER!



Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 2022:12:13:20:34:27 by peterdebel.

bluewhite
15/12/2022 14:40
since yestrday, i stated to think how easy somebody to be a TD for F1 team and how easy to leave without any reason or prsonal reason bla bla.bla....this is bullshit

an.jo
12/02/2023 19:13
Speaking in his first interview since his departure, the 64-year-old told AutoBild that “from the beginning the plan was always that I do this for two years, three at the most”.

“So we talked about what was the right thing to do now, and then it became clear pretty quickly that now was a good time to hand it over.”



Williams always knew Jost Capito ‘wouldn’t be here for five to ten years’

crusty_bread
12/02/2023 19:59
I remember reading this but wasn't sure how to take it. If capito departure was planned based on his age why did FX and Dave wheater leave at the same time?

SB308
13/02/2023 18:01
Quote:
crusty_bread
I remember reading this but wasn't sure how to take it. If capito departure was planned based on his age why did FX and Dave wheater leave at the same time?

Judging by the way the owners handled the signing of James Vowles by getting everyone involved in the discussions sign an NDA so the information of his signing doesn't get leaked out in the press, we can safely say they would have got Capito, FX to sign a non disclosure agreement to prevent the issues getting out in public.

GPL
24/03/2023 09:48
I don,t think Key is the man we need,as our next TD he sounds to hit and miss, from what i read.

Stuart L
24/03/2023 11:11
I agree, I think Vowles will have in mind his 1st, 2nd, 3rd choices for each of the key technical positions and will be well underway with firming up conversations with them. I also think he’s collaborative in terms of communication and working style and will look internally too. Mix of current Williams and some new people…not just dismissing what’s in the team already.

His working style will give people confidence and praise, he will get more out of people than a feared bully type manager.

GPL
25/03/2023 10:38
I am begining to warm to our new Boss .

Excited to see his next move.

Stu69
25/03/2023 18:37
Quote:
GPL
I am begining to warm to our new Boss .
Excited to see his next move.

He sounds like a man with a plan! I’m quite impressed so far.

spear&jackson No3
25/03/2023 18:56
Up to now, I've liked everything he's said and how he's said it.

Stu69
01/04/2023 07:54
Turns out Capito did a good job! Thanks Capito and Demaison!

bluewhite
01/04/2023 08:02
so who is the real one produce FW45?😝😝😝

crusty_bread
03/04/2023 01:23
Fom what I read, in the design of last year's b spec and this year's car, fx's main contribution was to simply have the good grace to listen to and authorise proposals from within in which were given to him in reaction to the initial errors made by the team interpreting these regs under no technical direction and after having observed other rivals solutions. It's claimed he had little to actually contribute personally.

Perhaps thats how the best operate these days, judging who to listen to, who to ignore with little direct expertise needed, but it's very unlikely that with no f1 experience, he had a major hand personally in the design of the car or structuring of the design department or even much to say. More likely, there's some talented people at williams who deserve recognition but who couldn't demonstrate this when the team had no technical leadership and no money or investment, and who needed a couple of attempts before getting it right.

FX certainly doesn't look like he did anything wrong, but nor does his departure necessarily signify a setback. I guess we may find out with time, but it's true whoever follows him is going to look pretty bad if williams take a step backwards.

bluewhite
03/04/2023 03:08
ok,from now lets copy aston martin car🤣😜

Mehryar
03/04/2023 10:14
Quote:
crusty_bread
Fom what I read, in the design of last year's b spec and this year's car, fx's main contribution was to simply have the good grace to listen to and authorise proposals from within in which were given to him in reaction to the initial errors made by the team interpreting these regs under no technical direction and after having observed other rivals solutions. It's claimed he had little to actually contribute personally.
Perhaps thats how the best operate these days, judging who to listen to, who to ignore with little direct expertise needed, but it's very unlikely that with no f1 experience, he had a major hand personally in the design of the car or structuring of the design department or even much to say. More likely, there's some talented people at williams who deserve recognition but who couldn't demonstrate this when the team had no technical leadership and no money or investment, and who needed a couple of attempts before getting it right.

FX certainly doesn't look like he did anything wrong, but nor does his departure necessarily signify a setback. I guess we may find out with time, but it's true whoever follows him is going to look pretty bad if williams take a step backwards.

I don't know the sources of Fx just following what he should do and so on, also I don't think we will ever hear it in details when looking at how our recent big names parted ways (Pat and Paddy Lowe to name).

But to me, it doesn't make sense.After all he was our technical director, if there was a guy whom he should listen to it was Capito so I still wait to see the car on a track like Barcelona to judge how much of inprovement we have taken but if these 3 races are something to judge? Hats off to him & his boss for making the biggest jump after AM and setting out a good development plan for early stages of the season.
And also considering how things have gone so far, I still believe it was a wrong decision to let him go.Atleast it was better to keep the guy and finish the project he knows better than anyone else before the new TD joins.Better than having no TD at all.

But let's see what the car can do on a track which is not a power circuit like Bahrain or not a high speed one like Jaddeh or Albert Park.

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/1095/mehryarsigyo7.gif

crusty_bread
03/04/2023 11:29
I guess williams operating for 3 years with no technical director proves that it's possible FX did not necessarily contribute anything. The team had been working on these regulations longer than him. I might be wrong, but I'm pretty sure the initiative came from within. He had little time to restructure anything and you don't start telling people who have been covering your role for years how to do things enough to make the car truly "yours" within a year with only VW experience. If the b spec plan within a month of arriving was his initiative and not someone else's id be absolutely amazed. This car is a logical extention of that concept.

I see mangers come and go at work like a revolving door and little changes. Those with no direct experience take time to contribute anything beyond housekeeping stuff. Those who try to contribute too soon invariably make a mess of it.

Edit: FX actually arrived in 2021. Not 2022. So maybe he did have some impact on recruiting, processes and design strategy during that time.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:04:03:11:49:43 by crusty_bread.

Mehryar
03/04/2023 14:13
Well with this logic we can't argue about half of the grid designers tbh.
Yeah it was a short time he joined and the fw44 was somehow started as a design before him joining so I can see the silverstone package as his first input.And as you said this year car is a follow up so the consistency in this period and the fact that it was a great departure from the pervious one (the one he was not with us) tells me he was responsible for it.
But you know, if he was not, then why firing him? If the time was so limited and the tech department were run by those old individuals within the team then why sacking when there's no replacement?

Anyway, what's done is done.Hopefully we can get some solid and experienced designers/technical staff soon.
But in short-term maybe we will be hit by the fact that the team was left without a structure at the top level for a few months.Probably it will have its effect on second part of the season development era.
And that's exactly the reason I hoped he would stay till the new staff step in.

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/1095/mehryarsigyo7.gif

crusty_bread
03/04/2023 14:56
It may be nothing more than dorilton wanting to send a clear message to the owner that they are managing their assets proactively and not doing nothing after a year in which williams drop from 8th to 10th. Big gesture. Forget the excuses. I guess they weren't to know this car would land so well. Even albon sounded surprised.

Mehryar
03/04/2023 15:18
Lol, Albon sounds surprised most of the time since he has joined us!
Not an offense to the guy.Lewis sounds surprised too recently.Within a week he says the car is terrible for this and that, the direction was wrong and the product is hopeless just to see it finishing on the podium in few days time with nearly zero update.

These guys, regardless of their history and achievements are usually off the mark with their predictions and not a reliable source.

But well, I keep my judgement for now.
So far we have been on tracks which were meant to suit our car.Meaning we have improved on things we have been abit strong before.
True test comes later.Then we can see if FX really made a good step or its just a false dawn.

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/1095/mehryarsigyo7.gif

GPL
05/04/2023 11:47
What are your thoughts regarding the search / signings of our new design team.

I think it is about April time that most teams start thinking about next years car direction/design.

Do we need to get our new design leaders in place very very soon??



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:04:05:11:47:50 by GPL.

Mr Brooksy
06/04/2023 00:21
Quote:
GPL
What are your thoughts regarding the search / signings of our new design team.
I think it is about April time that most teams start thinking about next years car direction/design.

Do we need to get our new design leaders in place very very soon??

Originally as soon as possible, however with McLaren going on a technical personnel signing spree, we are likely to find ourselves with the crumbs again. I just hope that James has a plan and that he and the senior Williams team are working towards a long term solution.

GPL
10/04/2023 10:45
Do you think we have an outside chance of poaching James Allison from Merc?

tedsouf
11/04/2023 09:10
There was this rumor going round especially in Greek media but has gone dead in the last couple of months:
[news.italy24.press]

GPL
11/04/2023 16:31
Ok Cheers.

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