Williams Racing to strengthen ties with Mercedes for 2022

Williams Racing has announced that it would strengthen ties with Mercedes from 2022 which would include the supply of gearbox, other transferable components in addition to the power unit.

Williams has enjoyed a successful technical partnership with Mercedes since 2014 when the hybrid power units were introduced. Their partnership saw Felipe Massa secure the pole position at the 2014 Austrian Grand Prix which has been the highlight of their cooperation so far.

The Grove-based outfit has now confirmed that it would continue to use Mercedes’ power unit from 2022 when the sport introduces heavily-updated Technical Regulations. In addition to the engines, the team will use Mercedes gearbox and related hydraulic components from 2022.

The team that was founded in 1977 has built its own gearboxes and hydraulics in-house, however, „the increased partnership with Mercedes will enable Williams to implement a more efficient design and manufacturing process in-house in the long-term, allowing the team to focus its resources more effectively in other performance areas.”

The outfit that has won 9 Constructors’ Championships has underlined that it would continue to design and manufacture other chassis parts internally.

Commenting on the announcement, Williams’ Team Principal Simon Roberts, Team Principal, commented: “I’m pleased to see our great relationship with Mercedes extend beyond the supply of engines. Williams is an independent team, but Formula One is always evolving, and as a team we must be agile to react to the current climate in order to put the team in the best position to be competitive on track.

"This long-term agreement with Mercedes is a positive step and forms part of our strategic objectives for the future whilst we will still retain our design and manufacturing capabilities in-house.”

Toto Wolff, CEO and Team Principal of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team said:: “We are pleased to expand our technical cooperation with Williams through this new agreement.

„For Williams, it makes sense to acquire the integrated powertrain after running our power units since 2014 and for our team, it makes sense in terms of economies of scale to supply another team under the new rules. This is a project we have been discussing with Williams for some time and I am glad we have been able to bring this extension to fruition.”