DECEMBER 14, 2006

Nelson to join Williams

Williams remains tight-lipped on the subject of whether or not the team has hired Renault F1 engineer Rod Nelson. What is clear is that Nelson is on gardening leave at Renault and will not be rejoining the team - so it is really just a question of where he turns up next.

The idea of having a new director of race and test engineering makes sense at Williams as the team's technical director Sam Michael is concentrating on the season-long development of Williams' 2007 race car and hiring Nelson may provide Michael with the additional race engineering resource to allow him to delegate some of his trackside responsibilities.

The 45-year-old Nelson is a doctor of mechanical engineering from the University of Wales. he joined Arrows in 1990 and worked in research and development before joining Simtek in 1993. He stayed with the team in 1994 and 1995 but then went back to Arrows when the operation closed. He moved to Benetton in 1997 and worked closely with Alexander Wurz and it is probable that the recommendation came from him.

We await confirmation.