Former McLaren member joins Williams as test driver
Williams has confirmed the appointment of Oliver Turvey, who will join the Grove-based F1 outfit as its new test and development driver from the upcoming 2025 F1 season.
British racing driver Oliver is a highly-respected figure in motorsport, bringing over 15 years of experience across Formula 1, Formula E, and sportscar racing.
In his new role, he will play a pivotal part in advancing Williams’ development programmes and simulator operations to support the British team's race drivers Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz.
This will include developing Williams’ state-of-the-art new driver-in-loop (DIL) simulator which will become operational later this year and is part of the team’s plan to invest in the people, technology and infrastructure needed to move up the grid.
Turvey previously received the Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award and won the Le Mans 24 Hours. He has spent the last 15 years as a test and development driver at McLaren Racing.
Speaking of the announcement, Williams' sporting director Sven Smeets commented: “We’re very happy to welcome Oliver to the team. He brings a vast amount of experience and expertise that will be invaluable to our progression as we continue to strengthen the team across the board.
"The role of a test and development driver is vital to our journey back towards success, and I am confident that Oliver, who will join Harrison Scott, will result in a strong team developing the current and future cars.”
Reflecting on his new role, Turvey added: “I am delighted to join Williams. It’s an honour to have the opportunity to join such an historic and successful team.
"I have long admired Williams and watching Damon Hill win the World Championship for them is a moment that inspired me as I began my own racing career in karting. The ambition and determination driving this project are incredibly inspiring, and I’m excited for the challenge ahead to help bring the team back to the top.
"It is a privilege to work alongside Alex and Carlos, who I consider two of the best drivers in F1. I look forward to using my experience as both a driver and engineer to work closely with the team at Grove to enhance the car’s performance in the simulator and support the race team.
"I would like to thank James, Sven, and the Board for putting their trust in me. I will give everything I have to help the team achieve success.”
