By Alan Baldwin
LONDON (Reuters) - The Williams
Formula One team announced on Tuesday a switch to gearboxes and
hydraulic components provided by engine supplier Mercedes from
2022 in a significant step for the struggling former champions
who changed hands last year.
The British team, now owned by U.S.-based Dorilton Capital after
the founding family sold up and departed, have scored just one
point in the last two seasons despite using the sport's dominant
engine.
A proudly independent constructor since 1978, Williams currently
design and build their own gearboxes but have also been in
decline for years.
They last won a grand prix in 2012 while rivals Racing Point,
now renamed Aston Martin, were race winners last year with a car
that drew heavily on the title-winning 2019 Mercedes.
The regulations will be undergoing a major overhaul in 2022 and
the new deal will allow Williams to focus resources on other
areas.
"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," said principal Simon Roberts in a
statement.
"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."
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said the expanded technical
cooperation made sense for both sides.
"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," said the Austrian.
"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."
Williams driver George Russell also has a long-term contract
with Mercedes and stood in for Lewis Hamilton in Bahrain last
month when the seven times world champion tested positive for
COVID-19.
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Toby Davis)
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