Williams Racing will expand its technical partnership with Mercedes-AMG Petronas to include the supply of various transferable components starting with the 2022 Formula One season.
Williams has already been using Mercedes engines ever since the hybrid era began in 2014 and come 2022, they will also use Mercedes gearboxes and hydraulic components, in a sense mirroring Ferrari and Haas’ relationship.
This restructured collaboration could result in Williams returning to the midfield (if not higher), which is where Haas has been for many years thanks to their Ferrari drivetrain.
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“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,” said Williams team principal Simon Roberts.
Back in August, U.S. investment firm Dorilton Capital bought Williams, with unanimous support from the team’s board.
Meanwhile, Mercedes team principal and CEO Toto Wolff added: “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.”
It will certainly be interesting to see who will be racing for an improved Williams team in 2022, seen as how George Russell’s contract with the outfit will expire at the end of next season.
