Mercedes loses key aerodynamicist Jan Tomaszweski to Williams

Mercedes continues to see a reshuffling of its technical staff as highly regarded aerodynamicist Jan Tomaszweski departs for Williams. Confirmed by GPblog, Tomaszweski has taken up the role of Head of Aerodynamics at Grove, marking a significant shift in personnel between the two teams and signaling Williams' intent to bolster its technical ranks.

Why it matters:

While not a household name for fans, Tomaszweski's exit adds to a growing list of departures from Brackley. Losing talent with six years of specific institutional knowledge to a direct competitor could impact Mercedes' development trajectory, particularly as Williams aggressively strengthens its technical department. This brain drain comes at a critical time as teams prepare for the 2026 regulatory changes.

The details:

• Tomaszweski worked in Mercedes' aerodynamics department since 2018 and was highly valued internally despite his low public profile.
• He has already begun his new role as Head of Aerodynamics at Williams.
• This follows the recent exit of Dan Milner, who spent 14 years at Mercedes serving as Chief Engineer Research and Development.
• Milner previously held key positions in powertrain engineering and transmission design, playing a vital role in the team's past hybrid era successes.
• Despite these high-profile losses, Mercedes has secured continuity for its drivers; George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli will retain their race engineers for the upcoming season.

Looking ahead:

As Williams absorbs this expertise to bolster their 2026 ambitions, Mercedes faces the challenge of filling these critical gaps. The movement of staff highlights the intense competition for top-tier engineering talent within the Formula 1 paddock. Maintaining stability in key technical roles will be crucial for Mercedes to ensure their car development does not stall during this transition period.