Williams appoints former Sauber COO Kruse
Williams has announced the addition of former Sauber chief operating officer Axel Kruse to its leadership team in the role of chief operations director.
Kruse has been at Sauber for the past 15 years, having previously worked as an engineer for BMW, where he dealt closely with Williams as engine supplier. His appointment comes in place of current Williams COO Fred Brousseau, who the team says will return to his native Canada later this year, and Kruse will work alongside Brousseau from September 1 until the latter’s departure.
“I am excited to welcome Axel to Atlassian Williams Racing as we continue to invest in the people, technology and infrastructure needed to achieve our goal of returning to the front of the grid,” team principal James Vowles said.
“Axel is the latest top talent to join us from within the F1 paddock and will continue the important work started by Fred to make our operations truly championship-level. I would like to thank Fred for everything he has done, and we all wish him well as he returns home to Canada.”
Kruse described the move to Williams as partly motivated by past near-misses, as he was working with the team when it twice finished as a runner-up in the constructors’ championship under BMW power.
“I am thrilled to be joining Atlassian Williams Racing and can’t wait to get started,” Kruse said. “Williams is an iconic Formula 1 team with huge ambition and momentum, and I look forward to working with everyone at Grove to deliver success on track. As a young engineer I saw first-hand the professionalism and passion at the team as we finished second in the constructors’ championship – there is unfinished business, and the target must be to finish first.”
The departure of Brousseau comes after more than two years helping Williams improve its infrastructure, with the Canadian having joined from Pratt & Whitney in early 2023.
“Having actively embarked on our transformation journey over the past two years, we’re now starting to see clear signs of progress – both from a business results and track performance perspective,” Brousseau said. “With this sustainable positive momentum now in place throughout the organisation, the time feels right for me to return home and begin the next chapter of my journey.
“I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together and, above all, grateful for the passion and dedication of the people – they are the true heart of Williams. Being welcomed into this team and the world of Formula 1 has been a genuine privilege. I’ll continue cheering proudly from afar as Williams pushes forward on its path back to the front of the grid.”
Alongside the addition of Kruse, Williams has announced a new role for former Alpine technical director Matt Harman, who will be promoted from design director to technical director of engineering.
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Kruse has been at Sauber for the past 15 years, having previously worked as an engineer for BMW, where he dealt closely with Williams as engine supplier. His appointment comes in place of current Williams COO Fred Brousseau, who the team says will return to his native Canada later this year, and Kruse will work alongside Brousseau from September 1 until the latter’s departure.
“I am excited to welcome Axel to Atlassian Williams Racing as we continue to invest in the people, technology and infrastructure needed to achieve our goal of returning to the front of the grid,” team principal James Vowles said.
“Axel is the latest top talent to join us from within the F1 paddock and will continue the important work started by Fred to make our operations truly championship-level. I would like to thank Fred for everything he has done, and we all wish him well as he returns home to Canada.”
Kruse described the move to Williams as partly motivated by past near-misses, as he was working with the team when it twice finished as a runner-up in the constructors’ championship under BMW power.
“I am thrilled to be joining Atlassian Williams Racing and can’t wait to get started,” Kruse said. “Williams is an iconic Formula 1 team with huge ambition and momentum, and I look forward to working with everyone at Grove to deliver success on track. As a young engineer I saw first-hand the professionalism and passion at the team as we finished second in the constructors’ championship – there is unfinished business, and the target must be to finish first.”
The departure of Brousseau comes after more than two years helping Williams improve its infrastructure, with the Canadian having joined from Pratt & Whitney in early 2023.
“Having actively embarked on our transformation journey over the past two years, we’re now starting to see clear signs of progress – both from a business results and track performance perspective,” Brousseau said. “With this sustainable positive momentum now in place throughout the organisation, the time feels right for me to return home and begin the next chapter of my journey.
“I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together and, above all, grateful for the passion and dedication of the people – they are the true heart of Williams. Being welcomed into this team and the world of Formula 1 has been a genuine privilege. I’ll continue cheering proudly from afar as Williams pushes forward on its path back to the front of the grid.”
Alongside the addition of Kruse, Williams has announced a new role for former Alpine technical director Matt Harman, who will be promoted from design director to technical director of engineering.
For more information: www.racer.com
For more Industry News, please Click Here
