Williams announce major F1 signing with 'unfinished business' at team

Williams has confirmed Axel Kruse is joining the team as its new chief operating officer (COO). The German is replacing outgoing COO Fred Brousseau, who is returning to his native Canada later in the year. Kruse has prior experience working with Williams, having spent time as an engineer at BMW when the German marque was the Grove squad's engine supplier in the early 2000s. Williams twice finished runner-up in the F1 constructors' championship under BMW power, in 2002 and 2003. Following that, Kruse spent 15 years as COO at Sauber. He will assume his position with the James Vowles-led team on September 1st and will work closely with Brousseau until he departs. "I am excited to welcome Axel to Williams Racing as we continue to invest in the people, technology and infrastructure needed to achieve our goal of returning to the front of the grid," team principal Vowles said. "Axel is the latest top talent to join us from within the F1 paddock and will continue the important work started by Fred to make our operations truly Championship-level. "I would like to thank Fred for everything he has done, and we all wish him well as he returns home to Canada." Kruse added: "I am thrilled to be joining Williams Racing and can't wait to get started. "Williams is an iconic Formula 1 team with huge ambition and momentum, and I look forward to working with everyone at Grove to deliver success on track. "As a young engineer, I saw first-hand the professionalism and passion at the team as we finished second in the constructors' championship – there is unfinished business, and the target must be to finish first." Brousseau, who has held the COO role at Williams since April 2023, said: "Having actively embarked on our transformation journey over the past two years, we're now starting to see clear signs of progress — both from a business results and track performance perspective. "With this sustainable positive momentum now in place throughout the organisation, the time feels right for me to return home and begin the next chapter of my journey. "I'm incredibly proud of what we've achieved together and, above all, grateful for the passion and dedication of the people — they are the true heart of Williams. "Being welcomed into this team and the world of Formula 1 has been a genuine privilege. I'll continue cheering proudly from afar as Williams pushes forward on its path back to the front of the grid." The team also confirmed that current design director Matt Harman, who joined from Alpine last year, has been promoted to engineering technical director.