(Motorsports news) After leaving a comparable position at Alpine earlier in the year, Fry joined Williams in November and played a crucial part in transforming the team following years of underfunding. The former employee of Benetton, Ferrari, and McLaren has been entrusted with determining and supplying Grove’s technical departments with the resources they require to succeed over the long run.
Although Fry joined the Williams too late to have a significant impact on Williams’ launch car for the 2024 campaign, Vowles thinks that despite his attention being on longer-term planning, Fry will soon prove useful as the team manager looks to reorient the team. “We could still make a difference with the automobile when I started this year, but the main work will be coming up with a plan for how we can entirely change course next year.
And in four or five months, I’m actually really interested to see how that works out,” Vowles remarked. “Now that Pat is beside me, I can accomplish more. Ask anyone who’s close enough, and you’ll find that Pat is a good guy who knows how to do things and is respected throughout the lane. “You’re not going to change your chassis, but with the direction of travel we are in there are still things we can tune before we get to Bahrain.”
Alex Albon, who has scored 27 of Williams’ 28 points this season, expressed his excitement at having Fry join the team and his experience and knowledge. “Obviously, he’s just joined the team, I think he’s getting up to speed very quickly,” Albon stated. “I’m thrilled to have him on board because I think he understands the areas where we need to develop as well, and he will provide the team with that leadership and mentorship.
After stopping its car development early in 2023, Williams managed to hold off a late threat from a resurgent AlphaTauri and finish seventh. Albon hopes that the approach will reap rewards in 2024. “I think we’ve sacrificed a lot this year to get to focus on next year’s car, we haven’t upgraded for much longer than our rivals, he added. “That can only really be a good thing. We did the bare minimum to finish P7 and now we’re eyes on to next year.
“Obviously having Pat on board [will help], and it will be James’ first proper year where he’s had true leadership in the development of the car, so let’s see.”
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