Michael resigns as Coughlan joins Williams
May 3, 2011 | 10:34 AM
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| FIGJAM
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Michael resigns as Coughlan joins Williams
Michael resigns as Coughlan joins Williams - GPUpdate.net
Williams F1 have announced that Technical Director Sam Michael will be leaving the team at the end of the year. Also departing will be Chief Aerodynamicist Jon Tomlinson, with both men having resigned from their positions. In addition, the Grove-based outfit confirms that former McLaren engineer Mike Coughlan has now joined.
After growing up in Australian capital city Canberra, Michael joined Lotus in 1993 before switching to Jordan a year later. In 1999 he served as Ralf Schumacher’s Ralf Engineer before working alongside Heinz-Harald Frentzen and celebrating two race wins in 1999. The move to Williams came in 2001, before taking the role of Technical Director from Patrick Head during the 2004 season.
"Both Sam and Jon are talented and driven people who have worked hard for Williams over ten and five years, respectively,” comments Team Principal Sir Frank Williams, who has witnessed the outfit's worst ever start to a Formula 1 season.
“Nonetheless, they have recognised that the team’s performance is not at the level that it needs to be and have resigned in order to give the team the opportunity to regroup and undertake the changes necessary to get back to the front of the grid.
“Both will continue to work in their present positions through until the end of the year to ensure that the team maintains focus and momentum during the 2011 season. We are very grateful to Sam and to Jon for their professional approach.”
Incidentally, Coughlan’s recruitment as Chief Engineer marks the Englishman’s return to Formula 1, having lost his job at McLaren after the highly controversial ‘Spygate’ scandal of 2007.
Williams F1 have announced that Technical Director Sam Michael will be leaving the team at the end of the year. Also departing will be Chief Aerodynamicist Jon Tomlinson, with both men having resigned from their positions. In addition, the Grove-based outfit confirms that former McLaren engineer Mike Coughlan has now joined.
After growing up in Australian capital city Canberra, Michael joined Lotus in 1993 before switching to Jordan a year later. In 1999 he served as Ralf Schumacher’s Ralf Engineer before working alongside Heinz-Harald Frentzen and celebrating two race wins in 1999. The move to Williams came in 2001, before taking the role of Technical Director from Patrick Head during the 2004 season.
"Both Sam and Jon are talented and driven people who have worked hard for Williams over ten and five years, respectively,” comments Team Principal Sir Frank Williams, who has witnessed the outfit's worst ever start to a Formula 1 season.
“Nonetheless, they have recognised that the team’s performance is not at the level that it needs to be and have resigned in order to give the team the opportunity to regroup and undertake the changes necessary to get back to the front of the grid.
“Both will continue to work in their present positions through until the end of the year to ensure that the team maintains focus and momentum during the 2011 season. We are very grateful to Sam and to Jon for their professional approach.”
Incidentally, Coughlan’s recruitment as Chief Engineer marks the Englishman’s return to Formula 1, having lost his job at McLaren after the highly controversial ‘Spygate’ scandal of 2007.
May 3, 2011 | 10:35 AM
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Returning Coughlan ‘grateful’ to Frank Williams
Returning Coughlan
It was confirmed on Tuesday that Mike Coughlan is to return to Formula 1, having been sacked by McLaren following the controversial ‘Spygate’ scandal of four years ago. The Englishman fills the role of Chief Engineer, with both Sam Michael and Jon Tomlinson leaving the team at the end of the year.
In 2007, Coughlan’s name was at the epicentre of ‘Spygate’ – the public episode which resulted in McLaren being thrown out of the Constructors’ World Championship and handed a 100-million dollar fine for possessing a technical dossier containing details of Ferrari’s car, provided by Nigel Stepney.
Since losing his job, Coughlan has worked on the Ocelot Light Protected Patrol Vehicle project and is currently working for NASCAR’s Michael Waltrip Racing.
“I am grateful to Williams for giving me this opportunity,” he said. “My experience in 2007 was life-changing. Since then, I have endeavoured to put my skills to good use in the design of the Ocelot vehicle whose purpose is to transport soldiers in safety.
“I have also enjoyed my time with Michael Waltrip Racing; they are an excellent race team and I wish them well for the future. Now, I am looking forward to returning to a sport which I love and to joining a team that I have admired for many years.
“I will dedicate myself to the team and to ensuring that we return to competitiveness while respecting the ethical standards with which Williams has always been synonymous.”
Team Principal Sir Frank Williams also acknowledges Coughlan’s infamous past:
“Mike Coughlan is a fine engineer with extensive experience across Formula 1 and both civil and defence engineering. He left Formula 1 in 2007 because of conduct which he acknowledges was wrong and which he profoundly regrets. His two year ban from the sport expired some time ago and Mike is now determined to prove himself again.”
It was confirmed on Tuesday that Mike Coughlan is to return to Formula 1, having been sacked by McLaren following the controversial ‘Spygate’ scandal of four years ago. The Englishman fills the role of Chief Engineer, with both Sam Michael and Jon Tomlinson leaving the team at the end of the year.
In 2007, Coughlan’s name was at the epicentre of ‘Spygate’ – the public episode which resulted in McLaren being thrown out of the Constructors’ World Championship and handed a 100-million dollar fine for possessing a technical dossier containing details of Ferrari’s car, provided by Nigel Stepney.
Since losing his job, Coughlan has worked on the Ocelot Light Protected Patrol Vehicle project and is currently working for NASCAR’s Michael Waltrip Racing.
“I am grateful to Williams for giving me this opportunity,” he said. “My experience in 2007 was life-changing. Since then, I have endeavoured to put my skills to good use in the design of the Ocelot vehicle whose purpose is to transport soldiers in safety.
“I have also enjoyed my time with Michael Waltrip Racing; they are an excellent race team and I wish them well for the future. Now, I am looking forward to returning to a sport which I love and to joining a team that I have admired for many years.
“I will dedicate myself to the team and to ensuring that we return to competitiveness while respecting the ethical standards with which Williams has always been synonymous.”
Team Principal Sir Frank Williams also acknowledges Coughlan’s infamous past:
“Mike Coughlan is a fine engineer with extensive experience across Formula 1 and both civil and defence engineering. He left Formula 1 in 2007 because of conduct which he acknowledges was wrong and which he profoundly regrets. His two year ban from the sport expired some time ago and Mike is now determined to prove himself again.”
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