Mike Coughlan promoted as the technical director of Williams – Formula 1 news
Mike Coughlan has recently been promoted as the technical director of Williams from his previously held designation of chief engineer.
This was a much called for decision that came from the team in the event of technical guru Sam Michael’s departure from the Grove-based squad to join hands with McLaren-Mercedes team.
Williams chairman Adam Parr has endorsed this statement at the press conference that was held at the inaugural 2011 Indian Grand Prix.
He said, “The new technical team consists of Mike Coughlan, who we have just confirmed as our new technical director.”
Mike joined the team in June 2011 and contributed to a great deal towards the development and technological upheaval of Williams. It is only due to his outstanding career with this squad and his remarkable services that the team management has decided to
promote him to the role of technical director.
Parr has also rejected the recent speculations regarding Kimi Raikkonen’s deal with the Grove-based outfit.
He said, “I am afraid there is only one answer to that question, which is that our race drivers are Pastor Maldonado and Rubens Barrichello and if, and when, that changes we will make an appropriate announcement.”
It should be noted here that Williams announcement to appoint Coughlan in Michael’s place is only tentative as of yet. The decision has not been finalised yet nor made official. The team plans to confirm this decision as soon as it can making it official
to media so that it can be put into effect immediately.
With both the titles for this season being decided, and with three races still remaining in the season, the Williams team currently lies at the ninth position with only 5 points to its credit in the constructors’ standings.
Upon assuming his role, Coughlan will be assigned with developing the design of Williams’ car for 2012 so that the team can fare better in the next season.
Coughlan got himself involved in a controversy that sprung up in 2007 revolving around an information-leakage that took place around that time. This leakage resulted in a major financial loss for the McLaren team and it cost Coughlan his job at the Woking-based
squad.
The Williams team has great hopes and expectations from Coughlan. Let’s see how he performs in his new role during the 2012 Formula 1 season.
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