Symonds back in F1 after Singapore scandal

Pat Symonds, the former Renault F1 engineering head who was banned from Formula One in 2009 after a Singapore Grand Prix crash scandal, has joined Williams as chief technical officer.

Williams, the former champions who have yet to score a point in nine races this season, announced the move yesterday and said their current technical head, Mike Coughlan, had left the team with immediate effect.

Coughlan had also joined Williams after serving a two-year ban imposed in 2007 for his role in a spying controversy that led to McLaren being handed a record £100 million (HK$1.15 billion) fine.

The highly-rated Symonds, who has been working with back-markers Marussia as a technical consultant under the terms of the ban that expires this year, will start work at the Williams factory on August 19.

"I'm delighted that Pat is joining the team," founder Frank Williams said.

"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," he added.

Symonds said he was honoured "to be asked to play a role in returning the team to their rightful place at the pinnacle of Formula One".