SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

Mercedes signs Costa and Willis!

Mercedes has signed both Aldo Costa and Geoff Willis to bolster its technical strength.

Mercedes has signed both Aldo Costa and Geoff Willis to bolster its technical strength.

Willis joins the team as technology director on October 17 and Costa will begin his role as engineering director on December 1. Both men will report to technical director Bob Bell.

Costa will be responsible for design and development, and Willis will head up aerodynamics, vehicle dynamics, control systems and simulation functions.

Willis worked at Williams in its nineties heyday and then with Honda at Brackley from 2001 to 2006, and was technical director at Red Bull from 2007 to 2009, before taking a consultancy role with Hispania Racing in March 2010.

Costa previously worked as technical director at Ferrari, joining in 1996 after eight years at Minardi and helping the team to eight world championships at Maranello, prior to his departure in May of this year.

Team Principal Ross Brawn said: "I am delighted to announce that Aldo Costa and Geoff Willis will be joining the team. Geoff is a highly respected engineer with over 20 years of F1 experience.

"Having worked closely with Aldo for many years, I know that he will bring dedication and championship-winning expertise to the team. Building a winning team is an exciting challenge for us all as we work towards the competitiveness and standards that we aspire to as the Mercedes-Benz works team.

"With a strong technical structure led by Bob Bell, we are moving ourselves into the best possible position to achieve our ambitions."

Mercedes motorsport vice president Norbert Haug added: "we have also recruited and invested at other levels in order to maximise our competitiveness under the Resource Restriction Agreement. Our goal remains to progress step by step in order to establish ourselves as a front-running team for the long term, in line with the tradition of the Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows."