Former McLaren head of aerodynamics joins Williams

Cape Town - Doug McKiernan, McLaren's former head of aerodynamics, has joined the Williams team as their new chief engineer, reuniting with Paddy Lowe. 

McKiernan signed with McLaren back in 1999 as an aerodynamics analyst. He worked his way through the ranks to become chief aerodynamicist, head of aerodynamics and then chief engineer. 

He left the team in 2015 after a period of gardening leave, but will returnto Formula One this season as he reunites with another former McLaren man, Lowe. 

"Since returning to Williams last year, it has become clear that in order help move the team forward we need greater engineering resources," said Lowe, Williams' chief technical officer. 

"We have already started to make excellent progress, with Dirk de Beer our head of aerodynamics leading an invigorated aerodynamics team. 

"The addition of Doug to the senior team, supporting our chief Designer Ed Wood and Dirk in particular, will give us the breadth for more focus on technical strategy, and the optimisation of car architecture across design and aerodynamics."