Williams and Mercedes F1 teams have declared that their partnership, involving the use of Mercedes engines, will persist until at least 2030. This extension establishes long-term agreements between Mercedes and three out of the ten Formula One teams, including Mercedes’ own team featuring seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. McLaren had previously disclosed a comparable deal in November. The decision comes ahead of significant power unit rule changes in 2026, marking the next major transformation in the sport.
Williams has been utilizing Mercedes engines since 2014, and their principal, James Vowles, who was formerly Mercedes’ strategy director, expressed enthusiasm for continuing this collaboration into Formula One’s next era. Vowles emphasized the alignment of Mercedes’ expertise, support, and technology with Williams’ long-term aspirations. The agreement ensures that Williams will maintain their in-house design and manufacturing capabilities while benefitting from Mercedes’ contributions.
In the 2023 season, Williams finished seventh overall, a substantial improvement from their 10th-place finish in 2022. The team will retain the same driver lineup with Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant for the 2024 season.
In other Formula One news, the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) confirmed the departures of sporting director Steve Nielsen and technical director Tim Goss, less than a year after their appointments. Tim Malyon will assume the role of sporting director, overseeing race direction and the Remote Operations Centre (ROC). Malyon’s experience with Red Bull and Sauber, along with his contributions to the FIA since 2019, position him to play a crucial role in enhancing sporting regulations and practices.
Nielsen’s departure follows reported disagreements with the FIA over desired changes, while Goss is expected to return to Formula One in a team capacity after a long tenure at McLaren. The changes in FIA leadership come amid perceived tensions between Formula One’s owner, Liberty Media, and the FIA, with disagreements on various issues, including the potential expansion to 11 teams.