Pat Symonds to replace Coughlan at Williams

Pat Symonds will join Williams Formula 1 team as their chief technical officer next month after leaving Marussia as a technical consultant.

Symonds will replace Mike Coughlan, who leaves Williams with immediate effect.

Symonds' 30 year F1 career has seen him achieve success with some of the sport's most accomplished teams and drivers.

Having started his career at Toleman, it was with Benetton and subsequently Renault that he achieved extraordinary success. His partnerships with Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso produced 32 race wins, four Drivers' World Championships and three Constructors' World Championships. Since 2009, he has run his own high technology and motorsports consultancy in addition to acting as consultant to Marussia.

On the downside, the Englishman was banned for five years for facilitating then Renault driver Fernando Alonso's victory in Singapore after Nelson Piquet Jr. was instructed to crash in the 2008 season. Team principal Flavio Briatore was also banned.

Speaking about the appointment, Williams founder and team principal Frank Williams said: "I'm delighted that Pat is joining the team. His technical capabilities and sporting successes speak for themselves and I'm sure that his knowledge and leadership will contribute considerably to the success that all of us at Williams are working hard to achieve."

Symonds said: "Williams is a team steeped in success and engineering excellence and I'm honoured to be asked to play a role in returning the team to its rightful place at the pinnacle of Formula One. Sir Frank, Mike and Claire have put in place the foundations for success and I'm immensely excited to begin this new challenge."

Williams are yet to score a point this season.