The Williams Formula 1 team has confirmed that chief technical officer Pat Symonds will vacate the team at the end of the year, come the end of his contract.
Symonds joined the team at the end of the 2013 season on a three-year deal and has been pivotal in the teams turn around from backmarkers to frontrunners, having finished third in the Constructors' Championship in both 2014 and 2015.
Williams' performance however tailed off this year, with the team dropping back to fifth behind Ferrari and Force India.
"Pat has been a tremendous asset to this team over the past three years," commented deputy team principal Claire Williams. "Pat’s appointment was the start of a major restructuring exercise, and he has been pivotal in reshaping Williams into what is a much stronger racing team today.
"I would like to thank him for all of his hard work and commitment during that time.
"We now look to the future and will be announcing details regarding the team’s technical leadership in due course."
The news will reignite rumours that Mercedes' Paddy Lowe is set for a move to Williams next season, with the Briton's current Mercedes contract expiring at the end of the year.
It's believed Williams have offered Lowe shares in the team in order to entice him away from champions Mercedes.
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