Jost Capito departs as Williams F1 boss
The former head of Volkswagen's now defunct World Rally Championship programme had been helm of the Grove-based team since 2020.
Williams Racing CEO Jost Capito speaks during a press conference ahead of the third practice and qualifying sessions for the Formula One United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, on October 22, 2022. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP)
Williams Racing CEO and Team Principal Jost Capito is leaving after two years in the job, the British Formula One outfit announced on Monday.
The 64-year-old former German motorsport executive joined Williams in 2020 after it was bought by investment group Dorilton Capital.
Frenchman François-Xavier Demaison, Williams’ technical director since 2021, is also leaving the team.
“Williams Racing will announce its new team principal and technical director in due course,” the team said in a statement.
The departures follow a year which saw Williams finish last in the Constructors’ Championship with eight points.
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“It has been a huge privilege to lead Williams Racing for the last two seasons and to lay the foundations for the turnaround of this great team. I look forward to watching the team as it continues on its path to future success,” Capito said.
Dorilton Capital chairman Matthew Savage added: “We would like to thank Jost for his hard work and dedication as we embarked on a major transformation process to begin the journey of reviving Williams Racing.
“We’re grateful that Jost postponed his planned retirement to take on this challenge and now he will pass the reins on for the next part of this staged process.”
Capito raced motorbikes in the 1970s and, driving with his father, won the truck category in Paris-Dakar in 1985.
He moved into motorsports management with Ford and then Volkswagen and also had Formula One stints at Sauber, Jordan and McLaren.
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