Williams has announced that it has signed up former McLaren COO Piers Thynne in what is a major coup for the Formula 1 giants, as well as part of a list of new recruits to the Grove-based squad.
Thynne had been part of the Woking-based outfit since 2008, having been deployed in various roles before becoming Chief Operating Officer in 2023, essentially a supporting role to Team Principal Andrea Stella.
Having been credited with helping the team rise back up to the top of the grid, Thynne, who ended his relationship with McLaren in January, has decided to take up new pastures as Chief Optimisation and Planning Officer, heading a quartet of new faces within the Williams ranks.
Mercedes, already smarting from the loss of engineer Dan Milner to Williams, sees two further members of its team make the same move, with Claire Simpson, who spent 12 years part of its hugely successful aero team, joining as Head of Aerodynamic Development.
She is joined by Fred Judd, who becomes Head of Performance Optimisation, having been an integral figure in the German marque’s 2026 power unit development programme.
And the third team to lose a key member of its personnel to Williams is Alpine, whose Chief Engineer, Steve Booth, has joined as Head of Vehicle Engineering.
New personnel additions to ‘take Williams to the next level’
In a statement, Thynne said: “I am delighted to be joining Atlassian Williams F1 Team at what is a really exciting moment. Williams has clear ambition to be championship level in all areas and set new standards in the sport, and I can’t wait to play my part in that as a member of the senior leadership group. I have enjoyed a fantastic time at McLaren, helping bring the team back to the top, and hope we will be able to do the same at Williams.”
Team Principal James Vowles spoke of his happiness at the quartet’s arrival, believing it gives Williams the strength to continue its upwards trajectory on the grid.
“I am thrilled to be welcoming Piers to Atlassian Williams F1 Team as we continue investing in the people, processes and technology to compete at the front in Formula 1,” he said.
We are clear in our ambition to build a team that can win World Championships, and Piers has unrivalled recent experience in doing exactly that.
“I am also delighted to welcome Claire, Fred and Steve – we are attracting extremely talented strategic recruits from throughout the paddock who will add to the foundations we have already put in place over the past few years and help take us to the next level.”
The signings come at a pivotal time for Williams, having suffered across the early part of this season due to the weight issues plaguing its FW48 chassis, blunting its progress after its impressive fifth-place finish in the 2025 Constructors’ Championship.
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