Mercedes lose key man Paddy Lowe to Williams: Ex-Ferrari director James Allison eyed
PADDY LOWE will join Williams after leaving his job as executive director at Mercedes, according to reports.
Paddy Lowe could be replaced by James Allison at Mercedes
Lowe joined Mercedes in 2013 from McLaren, where he had spent 20 years in various roles culminating in a stint as technical director.
Since arriving at Mercedes, he has overseen three Constructors' and three Drivers' Championship wins.
But now Sky Sports claim Lowe has been allowed to join Williams without working a notice period as an effort to grease the wheels of Valtteri Bottas' move in the other direction.
Nico Rosberg's shock retirement just days after winning the 2016 F1 World Drivers' Championship has left Mercedes scrambling to find a driver to partner Lewis Hamilton in 2017.
Pat Symonds has left Williams meaning Paddy Lowe will likely take over his technical role
James Allison worked with Sebastian Vettel at Ferrari
With the all the top drivers already signed up for the coming season, the Brackley outfit are poised to unveil Bottas as their new man.
However, Williams want Mercedes to wipe out their entire engine bill - estimated at £14.2million - in exchange for terminating Bottas' contract.
Nico Rosberg takes Mercedes for a spin after retirement in 2016
The move of Lowe has also been on the negotiating table between the two teams although Mercedes will now have to replace him as well.
Team boss Toto Wolff is said to have been aware that his executive director's exit was a possibility.
And the team are already thought to have eyed up replacements with James Allison, who left Ferrari last summer, at the top of the list.