Gillan leaves Williams F1

It was confirmed that Chief Operations Engineer Mark Gillan would be leaving the  Williams F1 team. Gillan joined the Williams team in 2011 and would help the team change their fortunes in 2012.

After one of the teams worst seasons since the 1970s in 2011, finishing a distant ninth in the constructors' championship, the team would make major chnages including appointing Gillan as Chief Operations Engineer during a reshuffle of their technical staff.

The team confirmed to Autosport that Gillan had vacated his role to "spend more time with his family". Williams declined to comment on any plans to replace Gillan.

Prior to joining Williams, Gillan had held positions at McLaren, Jaguar/Red Bull and Toyota, where he was head of aerodynamics in the team's final F1 seasons.

Prior to his departure Gillan spoke to Autosport.com in regard to the changes that will face teams like Williams as they prepare for the 2014 season, a season that will see major changes taking place. Not only will the teams have to continue development of their 2013 cars but will also have to contend with new cars and engines for 2014.

Gillan said that finding the right balance will be difficult, admitting wind tunnel work will be an area where extra caution will be needed.

"There are areas of this car over the winter which we need to improve and want to improve for next season but you've also got to balance 2014 on the horizon," Gillan told Autosport.

"That's a very important season and the resource you've got for what's relevant for 2014 and what's only relevant for 2013.

"This season, it has been very tight and the margins are small so we do want to push on 2014 as well.

"You are juggling two developments together so you have to try and fit that in. Clearly the wind tunnel development is something which you have to be very careful of in terms of prioritisation.

"All teams will be in the same boat. It's about ensuring that you are far enough ahead on 2014 to make informed decision on setting the car out without impacting too much on the 2013 development."

Gillan added the team's 2013 car will be an evolution of the FW34 used in 2012 rather than any major changes.

Gillan added: "This year, we didn't throw everything out of the FW33 [but] a lot was changed."

"But for next year, yes, it'll primarily be an evolution of this year's car but we will make changes."

Gillan said he felt the team had taken a significant step forward in 2012, although he conceded it still failed to maximise the car's potential all year long despite victory in the Spanish Grand Prix.

"We are much improved. It's still not where we want to be by any stretch of the imagination, but much improved," Gillan said.

"If you look at where we were lat year and where we are now, we are disappointed where we don't get the cars into Q3 and disappointed when we don't get into the points."