Sam Michael (Williams) at McLaren in 2012
The Australian had been the technical director at Williams for eleven years.
McLaren announced that Williams’ technical director, Sam Michael, will join the team as sporting director in 2012.
Michael announced earlier this season that he would leave Williams after a disappointing season with the Grove team, which has only five points after experiencing its worst start in Formula 1.
It was planned that Michael would work for Williams until the Korean Grand Prix before leaving his position, but the team stated he would depart after the Singapore Grand Prix next week.
McLaren has confirmed that Sam Michael will join the management team in addition to taking on specific responsibilities for the development and management of the team’s operations.
Sam Michael said: “I am very excited to join Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. Being a lifelong racing enthusiast, I know that McLaren is one of the greatest Formula 1 teams of all time. I already know and respect many members of the team’s technical management, and becoming a member of this excellent work unit was one of the main attractions of this new job. Similarly, for some time I have closely observed and greatly admired Lewis and Jenson, and I consider it a great privilege to be able to work with both of them.”
I spent eleven seasons with Williams, I have a lot of good memories and I wish them all the best for the future. In the near future, however, I will become 100% focused on McLaren, and I will do everything to ensure the team is seen as much as possible in the coming years.
Martin Whitmarsh, the head of McLaren, added: «Speaking on behalf of everyone at McLaren, I am very pleased to welcome Sam as an important new member of the team. He will bring us a very valuable mix of experience and expertise, and he will enrich the technical management we provide to our drivers. I am confident he will work very well with the other members of the technical management team, which I believe will become the strongest. »
Frank Williams announced that he was very happy that Michael had found another role to continue in Formula 1.
I am delighted that Sam has found a new role that will allow him to continue applying his energy, passion, and experience in the service of Formula 1. On behalf of the entire Williams team, I wish him a good transition to his new team. I would also like to thank Sam for his help in enabling a quick and smooth transition of our new technical direction.
