Jost Capito takes the reins at Williams

Having transformed Volkswagen into a modern rallying powerhouse in the space of just a few years, Jost Capito will now attempt to work his magic on reviving Williams’ competitive prospects in Formula 1, having taken over as leader of the F1 team.

Capito, 62, was announced as CEO of Williams back in December, but will now take on the team principal role, prompting former boss Simon Roberts to leave the squad.

Capito has four decades of motor sport management history, having started at BMW before moving on to hold key technical roles with Porsche, Ford and then Volkswagen. He joined the German giant in 2012 and within just four years delivered a hat-trick of both drivers’ and constructors’ World Rally championships.

During his first few months with Williams, Capito identified a lack of cohesion between its trackside and factory engineering branches. This restructure is aimed at bringing the two teams together to develop towards a common goal. It will likely come too late for George Russell to get among the points this year.