Willams have reshuffled their race operations structure ahead of the new Formula One season, which includes the appointment of Jenson Button’s race engineer from McLaren.
Dave Robson, who had worked with Button at McLaren following the Briton’s arrival at the Woking-based marque in 2010, will take on the role of race engineer to Felipe Massa at Williams.
Andrew Murdoch, who had previously worked with Massa in that position, has been promoted to senior performance engineer. Murdoch is to lead Williams’ Performance Group at the team’s factory in Grove, focusing on developing new techniques and processes within the engineering team to ensure continual performance improvements are brought to both cars throughout the season.
Murdoch is to also remain part of the trackside team with a focus on Valtteri Bottas’s car over the course of a race weekend. Other promotions see Carl Gaden, who has been with Williams since 1988 and who has spent the last 22 years as chief mechanic, made senior car systems engineer. Mark Pattinson, previously Massa’s number one mechanic, replaces Gaden.
Williams’s chief technical officer, Pat Symonds, said: “Off the back of a great 2014 campaign Williams is determined to continue this positive momentum into the new season, and these recent changes show our commitment to that goal.
“We are proud to be able to promote our existing talent to help strengthen every area within our engineering team.
“We will continue to invest in new talent where necessary to ensure we have the support and resources to achieve our on-track ambitions throughout 2015 and beyond.
“Our engineering team for the coming season is looking strong, and I’m excited to get the new season under way.”