Williams appoints Piers Thynne and 4 senior engineering leaders

The Williams Formula 1 team has announced a significant expansion of its senior leadership group, recruiting four key technical and operational personnel from rival teams McLaren, Mercedes, and Alpine. The most prominent appointment is former McLaren Chief Operating Officer Piers Thynne, who will join the Grove-based outfit in August as its new Chief Optimisation and Planning Officer.

Thynne, who left McLaren earlier this year, will be responsible for streamlining manufacturing and operational processes, with a focus on deploying advanced technology including robotics and artificial intelligence. He spent 17 years at McLaren, rising through roles including Gearbox Programme Manager, Production Director, and Operations Director before becoming COO in 2023. In a statement, Thynne said he was delighted to join at an exciting moment for the team, citing Williams's clear ambition to be championship-level across all areas.

The recruitment drive extends beyond Thynne. Williams has also secured Claire Simpson from Mercedes as its new Head of Aerodynamic Development, Fred Judd from Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains as Head of Performance Optimisation, and Steve Booth from Alpine...