Richards wields axe at BAR

British American Racing boss David Richards has followed up on his promise to restructure the team's technical department. Engineering director Malcolm Oastler and chief designer Andy Green have both left the outfit

Just three months into his tenure at BAR, Richards is sweeping a new broom through the Brackley-based outfit. The move follows a disappointing start to the season for the team, with Jacques Villeneuve and Olivier Panis both struggling for speed in this year's Honda-powered 004 chassis.

Along with the departure of Oastler and Green, Richards is also planning a 15 percent reduction of the workforce at the team. A new staff structure is to be implemented with immediate effect to give "clearer lines of reporting, more focused accountability and an overall leaner organisation," according to a BAR statement.

Richards said: "I have the greatest respect for the people who created this team, and the dedication they have shown to the task, but at the end of the day the organisation has not delivered. I know that Malcolm and Andy recognise that the results have been below their expectations and I appreciate their disappointment, and thank them for their efforts."

Only last weekend at the Malaysian Grand Prix, Richards reiterated his belief that "radical changes" were needed for a team that have "a mountain to climb".

Richards added: "We need to build a team with a very clear structure, with the very best people and give them the repsonsibility to deliver against precisely determined goals. As I have said from the beginning, BAR has many extremely talented people, and what we are now doing is giving them the framework within which they can fulfill their true potential.

The team's new technical director, Geoff Willis, officially joined the team just before the Malsysian GP and will head what BAR hope will hope to be a big upturn in performance. He had been on 'gardening leave' after quitting his former team Williams.