Former Alpine tech chief Matt Harman heads bumper list of 26 Williams hires as team bolster technical structure

Williams have unveiled a bolstered technical structure that features 26 new recruits from rival Formula 1 teams, including former Alpine Technical Director Matt Harman.

Team Principal James Vowles has been working with Chief Technical Officer Pat Fry to reshape and reinforce a team that was once one of the dominant forces in F1.

On Thursday in Austria, the team announced the fruits of their significant recruitment drive – with the influx of 26 personnel in total joining from Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull and Alpine. Between them, they have worked on cars and power units that have secured 12 constructors’ titles and 13 drivers’ championships.

Harman joins the team after the summer shutdown as Design Director. He left Alpine earlier this year and brings with him a wealth of experience collected during a 24-year career in F1.

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Fabrice Moncade joins as Chief Engineer, Computing Science on July 1 – having previously worked as Head of Performance Analytics at Ferrari.

Juan Molina will become Chief Aerodynamicist, reporting to Head of Aerodynamics Adam Kenyon, and will start on July 15. He was previously at Haas and Red Bull.

Steve Winstanley will be Chief Engineer, Composites and Structures, with a focus on leading and transforming the structures department within the design office. He has 22 years of experience in F1, including 14 with Red Bull.

Richard Frith is to become Head of Performance Systems in 2025. He was formerly Head of Performance at Alpine and has 25 years of experience in sport, including working with Jordan, Force India, Sauber, Marussia and McLaren.

Of the 26 hires in total, 11 are in the aerodynamics team and 13 in the design office.

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They will be joined by Sorin Cheran, who will become Chief Information and Analytics Officer. He joins from Hewlett Packard Enterprise, where he spent 17 years specialising in Artificial Intelligence and innovation.

“I am delighted to welcome these six incredible people to Williams,” said Team Principal James Vowles of the above hires. “We are on a mission to fight our way back to the front and being able to attract experienced, Championship-winning talent from other teams demonstrates huge belief in the journey we are on.

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“Williams is investing in what it takes to win, and this is just the start as we prepare to welcome more new faces from across the grid in the months ahead.”

Chief Technical Officer Pat Fry added: “Williams Racing has bold ambitions and huge momentum, and these exceptional recruits show this is a project people want to be part of.

“We are adding strength in depth to the enormous talent already at Grove as we build for the future.”