Symonds leaves FOM to join Andretti Global

Andretti Global have confirmed the arrival of former Formula 1 technical chief Pat Symonds as they continue their attempt to join the grid in the future.

Andretti Global have announced on Tuesday that Pat Symonds will join the Andretti Cadillac team as the organization continues its pursuit of entering Formula One. The British technical expert most recently served as Chief Technical Officer for Formula One. He will officially join the American team at the new Silverstone base of operations on completion of his Gardening Leave at Formula One Management.

Speaking of the announcement, Andretti CEO Michael Andretti added: "We couldn't be more excited to welcome Pat to the Andretti family.

"Pat's keen understanding of aerodynamics, vehicle dynamics and Formula 1 power units will be instrumental as we continue to build a competitive team.

"I believe his expertise has been pivotal in shaping the narrative of Formula 1 and his vote of confidence in joining our effort speaks volumes. I'm really happy with this next step as our work continues at pace

The 70-year-old engineer gained a Masters in aerodynamics at the Cranfield University. After starting his career in lower motorsport categories, he joined Toleman in the early 1980s. As Toleman grew, it was taken over to become Benetton Formula, and was subsequently sold and renamed Renault F1.

After a brief move to the abortive Reynard F1 project with then-chief designer Rory Byrne in 1991, he returned to Benetton. In the mid-1990s he was Michael Schumacher's race engineer, and he became Benetton's Technical Director. When Mike Gascoyne joined the team in 2001, Symonds was promoted to executive director of Engineering, a post which he retained though the transition to Renault ownership in 2002.

Following the crash controversy at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, Symonds left Renault in September 2009. He was suspended from F1 events for five years, although he his ban was overturned by the French Tribunal de Grande Instance in the following year, and he was also paid €5,000 in compensation.

In 2011, Symonds returned to F1 as a consultant for the Virgin Racing (later Manor F1) team to conduct a thorough overview of its operation.

Two years later, Symonds was appointed as Chief Technical Officer for the Williams F1 Team, replacing Mike Coughlan. He left the Grove-based squad in 2016, and joined Formula One Management as Formula 1's Chief Technical Officer in March 2017.