THERE is strong speculation in Formula 1 circles that Mercedes’s technical chief Paddy Lowe is about to join the Grove-based Williams team.

Lowe has decided to leave the sport’s world championship-winning constructor.

The 54-year-old Briton has played an integral role in Mercedes’ domination in recent times, culminating in a hat-trick of successive constructor and driver titles.

But Lowe, whose contract with Mercedes was due to expire in May, has been placed on gardening leave, with Williams set to be his next destination.

The Grove outfit refused to comment this week when asked about the move.

Lowe said: “I have had a fantastically successful and enjoyable three and a half years at Mercedes working with an incredible team of people.

“I am now looking forward to a new challenge.”

Lowe’s decision to quit Mercedes – and his proposed switch to Williams – is likely to trigger Valterri Bottas’s move in the other direction, with the Finnish driver expected to team up with Lewis Hamilton following world champion Nico Rosberg’s retirement.

Felipe Massa, the Brazilian veteran who only called time on his career at the end of last season, is set to re-sign for Williams once Bottas’s move to Mercedes is complete.

Lowe is tipped for a leading role at Williams after chief technical officer Pat Symonds parted company with the British team last year.

It would mark Lowe’s second career at Williams, following a six-year stint with the team before a 20-year spell at McLaren prior to his Mercedes move.

  • FRÉDÉRIC Vasseur has left his role as team principal of the Enstone-based Renault Sport Formula 1 team. 

After a first season relaunching their team, Renault and Vasseur have agreed to part.
A statement from Renault said: “Both parties remain committed to maintaining their good working relationship and expect this to take a new form in the future.
“The outlook of Renault’s second season back in Formula 1 will be set out at the presentation of the team’s new race car.”

  • WITH Manor Racing having gone into administration, the Formula1 future of the Banbury-based marque is in doubt.

According their administrators FRP, the team’s participation in March’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix will “depend on the outcome of the administration process, in a limited window of opportunity.”