Cosworth staying in 2011 as chairman Williams steps down

Williams will continue to be powered by Cosworth engines in 2011, the British team said in the Silverstone paddock on Thursday.

It had been rumoured that the team was eyeing a switch to Renault, but Cosworth’s Mark Gallagher responded by insisting a three-year contract is in place.

Due to the duration of the current contract, and the fact the situation will be unchanged in 2011, it is believed the Grove based outfit will not issue a media statement to confirm the identity of its ongoing engine supplier for 2011.

Also announced by Williams on Thursday is that chief executive Adam Parr is now taking over as chairman, even though Sir Frank Williams remains the official team principal.

But Parr’s new role hands him full responsibility of the day-to-day running of the team, with long-time boss and majority shareholder Williams, 68, still having the final say on decisions.

Williams press release

Williams F1 today announced the appointment of Adam Parr as Chairman of Williams Grand Prix Engineering Limited.

Frank Williams, Team Principal, said, “Adam joined Williams in 2006 as Chief Executive Officer. He has taken the lead in putting the team on a stronger financial footing, developing new businesses and building our social responsibility programme. These initiatives have seen us partnering with such outstanding organisations as Porsche and Cambridge University Press respectively in hybrid technology and education. I have now asked him to step up to Chairman in my place to give him both the responsibility and the authority to ensure the good running of all aspects of the team and the company.”

On the announcement, Adam Parr commented, “It is both a great honour and a big responsibility to take over Frank’s role as Chairman of Williams. Frank remains our controlling shareholder and Team Principal and he will always be the name, the face and the inspiration of this team. My aspiration is to ensure that the team and the company are run to the high standards that Frank and Patrick Head have always demanded, both on and off the track. In this, I am fortunate to count on dedicated partners, a strong board and, above all, a great team of dedicated and talented people at Grove.

“I am also pleased to announce that Alex Burns steps up from the role of Chief Operating Officer to that of Chief Executive Officer. In addition to his responsibilities for the production side of Williams F1, Alex chairs Williams Hybrid Power Limited and the Williams Technology Centre in Qatar.”