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.
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?
Quote:GPL
I am begining to warm to our new Boss .
Excited to see his next move.
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.
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??
