Sam Michael to join Mclaren

McLaren has announced that Williams technical director Sam Michael will join the team as sporting director from 2012.

Michael announced earlier this year that he would leave Williams following a dismal season for the Grove-based team, which has scored just five points after having endured its worst start to a season in Formula 1.

He was expected to work for Williams until the Korean Grand Prix before stepping down from his post, but Williams said he will leave after Singapore next week.

McLaren said Michael "will join the senior management team in addition to taking specific responsibility for the development and management of the team's trackside operations."

"I'm extremely excited to be joining Vodafone McLaren Mercedes," said Michael. "Being a racer my whole life, I know that McLaren is one of the all-time greats of Formula 1.

"I already know and respect many of the team's senior technical management figures, and becoming a member of that excellent working unit was one of the prime attractions of this new position.

"Equally, for some time I've closely observed and greatly admired both Lewis and Jenson as grade-one drivers, and therefore regard it as an enormous privilege to be able to work with both of them.

"I've spent 11 seasons with Williams, have many fond memories, and truly wish them all the best. In the near future, however, I will become 100 per cent focused on Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, and will be aiming to ensure that the team's famous rocket-red victory T-shirts will be seen many times over the coming years."

McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh added: "Speaking on behalf of everyone at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, I'm very pleased to welcome Sam as an important senior addition to our race team.

"He'll bring a very valuable blend of experience and expertise to our pitwall, and will also enrich the technical management we provide for our drivers.

"I'm certain he'll work extremely well with our senior technical management team, which I firmly believe will now become the strongest in all of Formula 1."

Frank Williams said he was happy for Michael to have found another role to continue in Formula 1.

"I am delighted that Sam has found a new role that will enable him to continue to apply his energy, passion and experience to Formula 1," he said. "On behalf of everyone at Williams I wish him a successful move to his new team.

"I would also like to thank Sam for his help in enabling a swift and smooth transition to our new technical leadership. Mike Coughlan and Jason Somerville are settling in very well and the restructuring will be complete when Mark Gillan joins us as Chief Operations Engineer on 19 September."

Source: autosport

any help on the pitwall for the mclaren guys is welcome cos in my opinion over the last two years there has been some absolute shocking calls on strategy for both drivers but in my opinion more on lewis' side.

Agreed and its often made the difference between a podium finish and not.

Agree to an extent about McLaren needing help with their race strategies, but I don't think Sam Michael's the guy to help them. He's not exactly distinguished himself at Williams...Frank was actually happy for him to go.

Hope I'm wrong, but things could actually get worse...

dyrewolfe, i seriously dont think things can get much worse for mclaren than whats gone on before over the last two seasons. There has been some absolute shocking strategic f*ck ups on the pitwall which have cost the team more than a handful of points. Not only have strategy/tyre calls been in question but the actual professionalism of the pit crews has also been in question over the last two years. Not only have the pit crews been consistently slower than their rivals there have been the biggest pit crews man sausage ups i.e Button in Silverstone along with leaving the bung in at Monaco etc. In terms of Hamilton......well where do i start lol! This appointment is an admission of guilt from within Mclaren that the team needs sorting out ASAP. Hopefully Sam can improve the situation as they are clearly are third best to RB/Ferrari.