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Atlassian
Williams Racing is pleased to announce the appointment of Axel Kruse as
Chief Operations Director as the team continues to transform in pursuit of
Championship success.
Axel brings almost two decades of leadership
experience working in Formula 1, having spent the past 15 years as Chief
Operating Officer at Sauber. Prior to that he was an engineer at BMW, where
he worked closely with Williams as the team twice finished second in the
Constructors’ Championship with BMW power.
The German will replace
current Chief Operating Officer Fred Brousseau, who is returning to his
native Canada later this year. Fred joined Williams in April 2023 following
a 26-year career with aerospace giant Pratt & Whitney, and has been
instrumental in transforming and modernising the team’s production
processes.
Axel will join the team on September 1 and will work
closely with Fred until his departure.
Alongside this, current
Design Director Matt Harman is being promoted to Technical Director –
Engineering. Matt joined Williams last year from Alpine, the latest move in
a glittering 25-year F1 career that has seen him work on seven different
Championship-winning cars and powertrains.
James Vowles, Team
Principal, Atlassian Williams Racing: “I am excited to welcome Axel to
Atlassian Williams Racing as we continue to invest in the people, technology
and infrastructure needed to achieve our goal of returning to the front of
the grid. Axel is the latest top talent to join us from within the F1
paddock and will continue the important work started by Fred to make our
operations truly Championship-level. I would like to thank Fred for
everything he has done, and we all wish him well as he returns home to
Canada.”
Axel Kruse, Chief Operations Director, Atlassian Williams
Racing: “I am thrilled to be joining Atlassian Williams Racing and can’t
wait to get started. Williams is an iconic Formula 1 team with huge ambition
and momentum, and I look forward to working with everyone at Grove to
deliver success on track. As a young engineer I saw first-hand the
professionalism and passion at the team as we finished second in the
Constructors’ Championship – there is unfinished business, and the target
must be to finish first.”
Fred Brousseau, Chief Operating Officer,
Atlassian Williams Racing: “Having actively embarked on our transformation
journey over the past two years, we’re now starting to see clear signs of
progress — both from a business results and track performance perspective.
With this sustainable positive momentum now in place throughout the
organisation, the time feels right for me to return home and begin the next
chapter of my journey. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together
and, above all, grateful for the passion and dedication of the people — they
are the true heart of Williams. Being welcomed into this team and the world
of Formula 1 has been a genuine privilege. I’ll continue cheering proudly
from afar as Williams pushes forward on its path back to the front of the
grid.” |
