F1 - Wolff should step up at Williams - Ecclestone

Team shareholder Toto Wolff should take more control of the famous yet beleaguered formula one team Williams.

That is the view of Bernie Ecclestone, who in the Swiss magazine Speed Week said the Grove based outfit was wrong to try to fix its problems from the bottom up.

Ahead of 2012, the team has ousted experienced driver Rubens Barrichello and technical director Sam Michael, long time co-owner Patrick Head has left, and designer Mike Coughlan and Renault engines have arrived.

The new FW34 was unveiled in a five-minute launch on Tuesday.

"One could say that we are off to a truly fresh start," said boss Sir Frank Williams.

But Ecclestone, F1’s chief executive, criticised the approach.

"I don’t think they’ve done it the right way," he said. "The changes should have come from above, not from below.

"I think people like Toto Wolff should get more control," added Ecclestone.

He is referring to Christian ’Toto’ Wolff, a young Austrian businessman and former racer who has a minor team shareholding.

Wolff is also involved in the management of Williams’ test driver Valtteri Bottas.