The Williams F1 team announced this morning that Pat Symonds will join the team as Chief Technical Officer next month, replacing Mike Coughlan, who has left the team with immediate effect.

Over Symonds career he has enjoyed much success, most significantly with Benetton with Michael Schumacher, and when the team became Renault with Fernando Alonso. Most recently, since 2011 he has been a technical consultant to the Marussia team. Symonds will start with Williams on August 19th.

Sir Frank Williams said, "I'm delighted that Pat is joining the team. His technical capabilities and sporting successes speak for themselves and I'm sure that his knowledge and leadership will contribute considerably to the success that all of us at Williams are working hard to achieve."

Pat Symonds said, "Williams is a team steeped in success and engineering excellence and I'm honoured to be asked to play a role in returning the team to its rightful place at the pinnacle of Formula One. Sir Frank, Mike and Claire have put in place the foundations for success and I'm immensely excited to begin this new challenge."

The move was spurred by the team's lack of competitiveness with this year's chassis.