Mercedes Formula 1 technical chief Paddy Lowe has left the team ahead of an impending move to Williams, according to reports circulating on Tuesday morning.
Sky Sports and motorsport.com both reported that Lowe has officially left Mercedes after three-and-a-half years at Brackley, ending a successful period with the team that has yielded three drivers' and constructors' championships.
Lowe has been linked with a move to Williams as part of the deal that will see Valtteri Bottas leave the British team and join Mercedes as Nico Rosberg's replacement for the 2017 season. Lowe would join Williams without any period of gardening leave.
When asked for comment on the reports, a Mercedes spokesman said: "We cannot make any comment at this stage."
Lowe started his F1 career with Williams back in 1987 as head of electronics, before moving to McLaren in 1993. After 20 years at Woking, Lowe was drafted in by Mercedes as part of its rebuilt F1 project, taking up the role of executive director (technical) as part of the team's management triumvirate featuring Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda.
Williams has recently parted company with chief technical officer Pat Symonds, who left the team on December 31 upon the expiration of his contract.
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