Formula One: Williams team principal Jost Capito is leaving his role

Williams team principal Jost Capito - who led Ford's motorsport programme in the early Noughties, scored VW rallying success in the middle part of the last decade, and was briefly McLaren CEO for all of three months in 2016 - is leaving his role, as is technical director FX Demaison.

Capito joined Williams in 2021 and the team enjoyed a better season immediately, finishing eighth in the constructors’ championship in no small part to George Russell’s incredible P2 following heroics in qualifying for the rained-off Belgian Grand Prix.

However the team struggled again this year, scoring just eight points as it slipped to the back of the field again under a new set of regulations.

"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,” said Capito. “I look forward to watching the team as it continues on its path to future success."

Meanwhile Matthew Savage, chairman of the group that owns Williams Racing, Dorilton Capital, said: "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. We would also like to thank FX for his contribution and wish him all the best for his future as he moves on."

Williams says it will announce its new team principal and technical director ‘in due course’. Who’s your money on folks?