Williams technical director Sam Michael is to stand down at the end of 2011, with Mike Coughlan joining as chief engineer.
Technical director to step down as 'Spygate' engineer joins
Williams announced on Tuesday that technical director Sam Michael is to stand down from his role at the end of the 2011 Formula One season.
Michael, who has been with the team for 10 years, will resign his position alongside chief aerodynamicist Jon Tomlinson in what the team describe as a technical department restructuring.
Williams added that Mike Coughlan, the former McLaren employee who was at the heart of a 2007 spying saga involving leaked Ferrari data, will join as chief engineer from next month.
Team principal Sir Frank Williams said: "Both Sam and Jon are talented and driven people who have worked hard for Williams over 10 and five years respectively. Nonetheless, they have recognised that the team's performance is not at the level that it needs to be and have resigned in order to give the team the opportunity to regroup and undertake the changes necessary to get back to the front of the grid.
"Both will continue to work in their present positions through until the end of the year to ensure that the team maintains focus and momentum during the 2011 season. We are very grateful to Sam and to Jon for their professional approach."
Controversy
The appointment of Coughlan comes four seasons after the 'Spygate' controversy, which centred on a dossier of confidential design data he received from former Ferrari chief mechanic Nigel Stepney.
Coughlan was suspended - and subsequently had his contract terminated by - McLaren, who were fined $100million by the FIA and excluded from the 2007 constructors' championship.
The 52-year-old was handed a two-year suspension from F1, and only avoided legal proceedings in Italy after agreeing in February 2009 to pay €180,000 (£158,000).
Williams added: "Mike Coughlan is a fine engineer with extensive experience across Formula One and both civil and defence engineering. He left Formula One in 2007 because of conduct which he acknowledges was wrong and which he profoundly regrets.
"His two-year ban from the sport expired some time ago and Mike is now determined to prove himself again."
Williams chairman Adam Parr admitted to speaking with Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali about their decision to hire Coughlan - but refused to divulge his reaction.
"I called Stefano to explain to him what we are doing, and we spoke about it," Parr said.
"It was a necessary courtesy, but I don't want to put words into his mouth. Stefano and I have a very good relationship, and he is an exceptionally courteous and thoughtful person."
Worst start
Williams are currently enduring their worst start to a Formula One season. They have yet to score a world championship point after three races and lie ninth out of 12 teams in the constructors' championship table.
The team, who won a total of nine constructors' titles between 1980 and 1997 but have not won a race since 2004, floated on the Frankfurt stock exchange in March.
