Pat Fry will take over as chief technical officer at Williams Formula 1 team, starting on 1 November joining new team principal James Vowles at Grove.
On a day in which Otmar Szafanuer lost his job at Alpine, Fry will also leave the French team that he joined in 2020. The well-travelled and respected engineer has worked for Benetton, Ferrari and McLaren in F1.
Williams confirmed the appointment on their website: “We are delighted to announce the appointment of Pat Fry as our new Chief Technical Officer. With an illustrious career spanning over three decades in the motorsport industry, Pat brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his new role, further strengthening the team’s technical leadership.”
Fry reacted to the new chapter in his F1 career: “I am thrilled to be joining Williams Racing as Chief Technical Officer. The team has a rich heritage in Formula 1, and I am excited to contribute to its future success. I believe in the team’s potential and, together, we will strive for excellence on and off the track.”
Team Principal James Vowles is already looking forward to working with Pat later this year, sharing: “On behalf of all at Williams Racing, I’m delighted to be welcoming Pat. His knowledge and experience will further strengthen the team’s technical capabilities and pursuit of excellence as we build the next chapter of Williams.
“Pat has been a core part of winning teams throughout his career, he is one of the most respected experts in our industry and I’m excited to begin work with him when he joins in November.”
Who is Pat Fry?
Born in Surrey, Pat began his Formula 1 journey in 1987 and, since then, has held senior engineering positions at some of the sport’s most prestigious teams, including McLaren and Ferrari.
Throughout his career, he has played a pivotal role in achieving numerous successes and contributing to multiple race and championship victories.
During his time at McLaren, which spanned an impressive 17 years, Pat made significant contributions to the team’s success. He was instrumental in securing 66 Grand Prix wins, one Constructors’ Championship victory, and three Drivers’ Championships.
Starting as a Race Engineer on the test team developing active suspension, Pat’s talents were quickly recognised, leading him to hold various positions within the team, including the role of Chief Engineer and race engineering positions with F1 World Champion Mika Häkkinen and multiple GP winner David Coulthard.
Pat is well-travelled in the F1 paddock having spells with Benetton, Ferrari and McLaren
In 2010, Pat embarked on a new chapter in his career, joining Ferrari as Assistant Technical Director. Over the years, he took on crucial roles such as Head of Race Track Engineering, Director of Chassis, and Director of Engineering at the Maranello-based team.
After a short break, Pat returned to Formula 1 in 2016 as an Engineering Consultant for Manor Racing before temporarily rejoining McLaren as Engineering Director on a contract basis in 2018.
His technical acumen and leadership contributed to McLaren’s notable fourth-place finish in the Constructors’ battle, the team’s best championship result since 2012.
In February 2020, Pat joined the Alpine F1 Team as Chassis Technical Director, then assumed the position of Chief Technical Officer in February 2022. Now he is poised to bring his wealth of knowledge and expertise to Williams Racing, commencing his role as Chief Technical Officer later this year.
With his vast experience and proven track record, Pat is set to play a pivotal role in driving technical excellence and innovation within the team