Why leave a champion team for a midfielder?
Williams is a very different race team to the one Paddy Lowe achieved great success with in the early 1990s. So why has he left Formula 1's recent dominator to rejoin what is now no more than a plucky independent?
A twinkle in the eye. That subtle signifier of mischief within. It gives Paddy Lowe away as one of the good guys, even as he carries - lightly - the mantle of technical greatness. The warmth of his greeting at Williams's Grove HQ, a readiness to chat. It's disarming in one so accomplished.
This, after all, is the man whose technical leadership (in tandem, it must be noted, with engine boss Andy Cowell) helped Mercedes to a period of consummate domination from 2014-16. And one whose CV encompasses years at Williams during its 1990s glory days, then McLaren when it was last a frontrunner.
Share Or Save This Story
More from GP Racing
Why Mohammed Ben Sulayem believes his mission to create a strong FIA is so important
The military precision involved in bringing F1 broadcasts to life
The science behind determining F1 suspension set-ups
Why star-struck Alpine F1 drivers aren't the biggest beneficiary of Zidane's wisdom
The factors that explain F1’s uniquely conservative driver choices for 2024
Who will lead the Mercedes F1 resurgence in 2024?
The Verstappen standard McLaren wants Norris to reach in F1 2024
How Steiner’s exit underlines the changed role of F1’s team bosses
Latest news
What we're looking forward to in national racing in 2024
Snorkels “more relevant” for rainy-season WRC Safari
McLaren will “protect” Piastri from busy Melbourne F1 schedule
Alpine F1 driver Gasly becomes co-owner in French football club
Autosport Plus
How Bruce McLaren's death shaped more than just his F1 team
Why Mohammed Ben Sulayem believes his mission to create a strong FIA is so important
The Beckham clues as to where Verstappen and Red Bull are heading
How Bearman's F1 debut will help Mercedes on its Hamilton replacement call
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.