OCTOBER 28, 2011

Coughlan is new Williams technical director

Mike Coughlan is now the Williams technical director, the team has confirmed at the Indian GP.

Sam Michael, who occupied the role from 2004, resigned his position at the start of the season and recently departed the team for McLaren.

Coughlan, 52, the man at the centre of F1's 2007 'spygate' saga, joined the team as chief engineer in June. Williams recently reached an out of court agreement with Michael Waltrip Racing, the NASCAR outfit which claimed breach of contract when Coughlan returned to F1 with Williams.

Asked about the team's technical structure in India, Williams chairman Adam Parr referred to Coughlan, "who we have just confirmed as our new technical director."

Parr would not be drawn on the prospect of Kimi Raikkonen driving for the team in 2012.

"Our race drivers are Pastor Maldonado and Rubens Barrichello," he said. "If and when that changes, we will make an appropriate announcement."